Calculate Parallelogram Area: Rectangle with Perimeter 24 Inside

Parallelogram Area with Rectangle Perimeter

The parallelogram ABCD contains the rectangle AEFC inside it, which has a perimeter of 24.

AE = 8

BC = 5

P=24P=24P=24555AAABBBCCCDDDEEEFFF8

What is the area of the parallelogram?

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:17 Let's find the area of the parallelogram!
00:20 Remember, opposite sides are equal in a rectangle.
00:27 The perimeter is the total length of all sides added together.
00:36 Let's plug in the numbers and solve for E C.
00:55 We've found the length of E C. It's also the height of the parallelogram.
01:01 Now, we'll use the Pythagorean theorem in triangle E B C.
01:11 Let's substitute the numbers and find E B.
01:17 Next, we need to isolate E B.
01:24 Great! We now know the length of E B.
01:34 Let's calculate the area by multiplying the height by the base.
01:41 The side A B equals the sum of A E and E B.
01:45 Now we'll use the values to find the area of the parallelogram.
01:50 And there we have it! We've solved the problem.

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

The parallelogram ABCD contains the rectangle AEFC inside it, which has a perimeter of 24.

AE = 8

BC = 5

P=24P=24P=24555AAABBBCCCDDDEEEFFF8

What is the area of the parallelogram?

2

Step-by-step solution

In the first step, we must find the length of EC, which we will identify with an X.

We know that the perimeter of a rectangle is the sum of all its sides (AE+EC+CF+FA),

Since in a rectangle the opposite sides are equal, the formula can also be written like this: 2AE=2EC.

We replace the known data:

2×8+2X=24 2\times8+2X=24

16+2X=24 16+2X=24

We isolate X:

2X=8 2X=8

and divide by 2:

X=4 X=4

Now we can use the Pythagorean theorem to find EB.

(Pythagoras: A2+B2=C2 A^2+B^2=C^2 )

EB2+42=52 EB^2+4^2=5^2

EB2+16=25 EB^2+16=25

We isolate the variable

EB2=9 EB^2=9

We take the square root of the equation.

EB=3 EB=3

The area of a parallelogram is the height multiplied by the side to which the height descends, that isAB×EC AB\times EC .

AB= AE+EB AB=\text{ AE}+EB

AB=8+3=11 AB=8+3=11

And therefore we will apply the area formula:

11×4=44 11\times4=44

3

Final Answer

44

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Rectangle Perimeter: Use formula 2(length + width) = 24 to find missing dimension
  • Pythagorean Theorem: Find height using 32+42=52 3^2 + 4^2 = 5^2 in right triangle
  • Area Formula: Parallelogram area = base × height = 11 × 4 = 44 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Using the wrong base for area calculation
    Don't use BC = 5 as the base for area calculation = wrong answer of 20! BC is a slanted side, not perpendicular to the height. Always use the horizontal base AB = 11 with perpendicular height EC = 4.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

A parallelogram has a length equal to 6 cm and a height equal to 4.5 cm.

Calculate the area of the parallelogram.

6664.54.54.5

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why can't I use BC = 5 as the base for the parallelogram area?

+

BC = 5 is a slanted side, not perpendicular to any height we can easily find. For area calculations, you need a base that's perpendicular to the height. Use AB = 11 as the base with height EC = 4.

How do I know that EC is the height of the parallelogram?

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EC is perpendicular to both AB and the opposite side, making it the true height. In the rectangle AEFC, all angles are 90°, so EC forms right angles with the horizontal sides.

Why do I need the Pythagorean theorem in this problem?

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The Pythagorean theorem helps find EB = 3 using the right triangle EBC where EB2+EC2=BC2 EB^2 + EC^2 = BC^2 . This gives us EB = 3, so AB = AE + EB = 8 + 3 = 11.

What if I calculated the rectangle's dimensions wrong?

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Double-check using the perimeter formula: 2(8+4)=24 2(8 + 4) = 24 ✓. If AE = 8 and perimeter = 24, then EC must equal 4. Always verify your rectangle dimensions add up correctly!

Can I solve this without using the Pythagorean theorem?

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No, you need the Pythagorean theorem to find EB = 3. Without it, you can't determine the full length AB = 11, which is essential for calculating the parallelogram's area.

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