Area of a Parallelogram

In this section, you will see how parallelograms are related to rectangles. Then you will use that fact to find the
area of a parallelogram.

1. In the Gizmotm, under Shape, select Parallelogram. Drag A, B, C, and D to form any parallelogram you like.
a. How could you turn this parallelogram into a rectangle? Think about cutting a triangular piece off one end
of the parallelogram and sticking it on the other end. Click on Animate to see the rectangle that you would
form.
b. The rectangle at the bottom of the screen must have the same area as the parallelogram at the top.
Explain why this is true.
c. What lengths do you need to know to find the area of this rectangle? Use the Gizmo rulers to measure those
lengths. (For help using the ruler, click on Gizmo help below the Gizmo.) Click on Show base and height to
check your work.
2. With Show base and height selected, turn on Show grid.
a. How many grid squares fall inside the rectangle? That is the area of the rectangle, and it is also the area of
the parallelogram. Click on Show area to check your answer. Was your answer correct?
b. Knowing a formula allows you not to have to count grid squares. What is the formula for finding the area of
a rectangle? Turn off Show grid.
c. Drag A, B, C, and D to make another parallelogram with a base and a height that are whole numbers. Click
on Animate to see a rectangle with the same base and height. What is the area of the rectangle? What is
the area of the parallelogram?
d. Make a formula for finding the area of a parallelogram. What is your formula? Test your formula by finding
the area of a parallelogram with base 8 and height 4. Use the Gizmo to check your answer.
e. If you know the area of a parallelogram is 45.0 square feet and the base is 10.0 feet, how can you find the
height? Explain your method and then find the answer.
Area of a Triangle
In this section, you will explore the relationship between triangles and parallelograms, and you will see how that
relationship helps you find the area of a triangle.

1. Under Shape, select Triangle. Drag A, B, and C to form any triangle you like. Click Animate.
a. The animation shows the triangle being copied and the two triangles put together to form a new shape.
What type of polygon is formed?
b. If two triangles form one parallelogram, how is the area of one triangle related to the area of the
parallelogram? If the formula for the area of the parallelogram is A = bh, what do you think the formula for
the area of the triangle is?
c. Click on Show base and height. Drag A, B, and C to form a triangle with base 10 and height 4. Test your
formula by finding the area of this triangle and click on Show area to check your answer. Does your
formula work?
2. Use the formula you found for the area of a triangle to answer the questions below.
a. Find the area of a triangle with base = 8 units and height = 3 units.
b. If you know the area of a triangle is 30 square inches and the height is 5 inches, how can you find the base?
Explain your method and then find the answer.