Calculate Parallelogram Perimeter: Finding Total Length with Sides 17 and 13

Parallelogram Perimeter with Adjacent Sides

Given the parallelogram:

171717131313AAABBBDDDCCC

Calculate the perimeter of the parallelogram.

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Calculate the perimeter of the parallelogram
00:03 Opposite sides are equal in a parallelogram
00:07 Let's substitute the side value
00:14 These sides are also opposite therefore equal
00:18 Let's substitute the side value
00:28 The perimeter of the parallelogram equals the sum of its sides
00:46 Let's substitute appropriate values and solve for the perimeter
00:55 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

Given the parallelogram:

171717131313AAABBBDDDCCC

Calculate the perimeter of the parallelogram.

2

Step-by-step solution

To find the perimeter of the parallelogram, we apply the formula P=2(a+b) P = 2(a + b) , where a a and b b are the lengths of adjacent sides.

Step-by-step:

  • Step 1: Identify the side lengths. From the given problem, a=17 a = 17 and b=13 b = 13 .
  • Step 2: Use the perimeter formula P=2(a+b) P = 2(a + b) .
  • Step 3: Substitute the given values into the formula.

Calculation:

P=2(17+13) P = 2(17 + 13)

P=2×30 P = 2 \times 30

P=60 P = 60

Therefore, the perimeter of the parallelogram is 60 60 .

3

Final Answer

60

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Formula: Perimeter equals 2(a + b) where a and b are adjacent sides
  • Technique: Add adjacent sides first: 17 + 13 = 30, then multiply by 2
  • Check: Count all four sides: 17 + 13 + 17 + 13 = 60 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Adding all given measurements without considering parallelogram properties
    Don't just add 17 + 13 = 30 as the final answer! This ignores that parallelograms have four sides, not two. Always remember opposite sides are equal, so multiply the sum by 2.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Given the parallelogram:

444222AAABBBDDDCCC

Calculate the perimeter of the parallelogram.

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why do I multiply by 2 in the perimeter formula?

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A parallelogram has four sides, but opposite sides are equal in length. So if you know two adjacent sides (17 and 13), the other two sides are also 17 and 13. That's why we use P = 2(a + b)!

What if I'm given all four side lengths instead of just two?

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Just add all four sides directly! But remember to check that opposite sides are equal - if they're not, it's not actually a parallelogram.

Can I use this formula for rectangles and squares too?

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Yes! Rectangles and squares are special types of parallelograms, so the formula P = 2(a + b) works perfectly. For squares, both adjacent sides are equal.

How do I identify which sides are adjacent?

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Adjacent sides are sides that share a vertex (corner). In the diagram, sides with lengths 17 and 13 meet at point A, so they're adjacent.

What's the difference between perimeter and area?

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Perimeter is the distance around the shape (add all side lengths), while area is the space inside the shape (multiply base × height for parallelograms).

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