Calculating the Area of a Rectangle and Parallelogram: Step-by-Step Guide and Examples

Area of Rectangles & Parallelograms

To find the area of a rectangle or a parallelogram, you need to use the formula:

Area = Base × Height

For a rectangle, the base and height are the lengths of the sides that are perpendicular to each other

To find the area of a rectangle or a parallelogram, you need to use the formula:

Area = Base × Height

For a rectangle, the base and height are the lengths of the sides that are perpendicular to each other. It does not matter which side is considered the base and which one is considered the height, as the area will be the same.

For a parallelogram, the base and height are also the lengths of the sides that are perpendicular to each other. However, unlike a rectangle, the base and height can refer to any pair of sides that are perpendicular to each other, as long as they are not the same side.

Let’s look at an example:

Example 1:
Find the area of a rectangle with a base of 5 units and a height of 3 units.

Solution:
Using the formula, Area = Base × Height, we can substitute the values:
Area = 5 units × 3 units = 15 square units

Therefore, the area of the rectangle is 15 square units.

Example 2:
Find the area of a parallelogram with a base of 7 units and a height of 4 units.

Solution:
Again, using the formula, Area = Base × Height, we can substitute the values:
Area = 7 units × 4 units = 28 square units

Therefore, the area of the parallelogram is 28 square units.

It is important to note that the units for the base and height should be the same, as the area is always measured in square units. Additionally, if the base and height are given in different units, you may need to convert them to the same units before calculating the area.

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