Geometry
Area of a parallelogram
Height is the perpendicular distance between the parallel sides, never the slanted side length.
The Formula
A = base x height
Height is the perpendicular distance between the parallel sides, never the slanted side length.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Area | square metres | Surface enclosed by the parallelogram. |
| b | Base | metres | Length of one of the parallel sides. |
| h | Height | metres | Perpendicular distance between the parallel sides. |
What Each Symbol Means
Asquare metres
Area
Surface enclosed by the parallelogram.
bmetres
Base
Length of one of the parallel sides.
hmetres
Height
Perpendicular distance between the parallel sides.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to calculate the area of a parallelogram page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Calculate The Area Of A Parallelogram, filed under Math. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.