Finding the area of a parallelogram in 6th grade math is straightforward using a simple formula. The exact answer is: You find the area of a parallelogram by multiplying its base by its height.
Understanding the Formula
Just like finding the area of a rectangle by multiplying length times width, the area of a parallelogram is found using a similar concept, but with specific terms:
- Area = base × height
According to the method shown in the provided reference, "the area of a parallelogram is found with the formula. Area is equal to the base times the height." This is the key formula you will use.
What are Base and Height?
In a parallelogram:
- Base: This is the length of one of the sides of the parallelogram. You can choose any side to be the base.
- Height: This is the perpendicular distance between the base you chose and the opposite side. It is important that the height forms a 90-degree angle with the base. The height is often shown as a dashed line inside or outside the parallelogram.
Think of it like taking a parallelogram and cutting off a triangle from one side and moving it to the other. It forms a rectangle! The length of this rectangle is the base of the parallelogram, and the width of this rectangle is the height of the parallelogram.
Steps to Find the Area
Here are the simple steps:
- Identify the base: Choose one side of the parallelogram to be the base.
- Find the height: Locate or measure the perpendicular distance from the chosen base to the opposite side. Make sure it's the straight up-and-down distance, not the length of the slanted side.
- Multiply: Use the formula: Area = base × height.
- Write the units: The area will be in square units (like square inches, square centimeters, etc.).
Example Calculation
Let's find the area of a parallelogram with a base of 7 cm and a height of 4 cm.
| Measurement | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Base | 7 | cm |
| Height | 4 | cm |
Using the formula:
Area = base × height
Area = 7 cm × 4 cm
Area = 28 square cm
So, the area is 28 cm².
Using the correct formula and identifying the base and perpendicular height are the essential steps for finding the area of a parallelogram in 6th grade math.
