GCSE Maths Practice: perimeter-and-area

Question 1 of 10

This question introduces calculating the area of a parallelogram. Understanding how to multiply the base and perpendicular height is essential for all area calculations.

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\( \begin{array}{l}\text{Find the area of a parallelogram with base } 5\,\text{cm} \text{ and height } 4\,\text{cm}.\end{array} \)

Choose one option:

Remember: area = base × height. Always use perpendicular height. Check your units.

Calculating the area of a parallelogram requires knowing the base and the perpendicular height. Unlike rectangles, the slanted sides do not contribute directly to the area calculation. Multiply the base by the perpendicular height to get the area. For example, a base of 6 cm and height of 3 cm gives an area of 18 cm². Always ensure you measure the height perpendicular to the base. Understanding this method helps with other quadrilaterals, as many can be divided into triangles. Practicing different examples, including squares and rectangles, reinforces this concept and prevents mistakes in real-life applications.