Question

What is the area of ABCD? (Picture Below)

Answer 1

first you use the area of the

triangle formula
you have the given
b =
h =

A = 1/2 ( b ) ( h )



there are 2
triangles

then use area of a rectangle

h =
b =

A = (b ) ( h )

just add the pieces together

because it is AREA

add areas

A B C
triangle rectangle triangle
1 2

you get TOTAL AREA

Answer 2

It's even simpler than that.

On any parallelogram, you can slice the triangular section off one end and stick it on the other which gives you a rectangle.

The area of a rectangle is b*h, both of which are given in your diagram.

Answer 3

Im really really confused.

Answer 4

what confuses me is that extra triangle,inside.

Answer 5

Why is it confusing to you? I'll try to clear it up for you.

Answer 6

I know that for area you multiply,do i multiply everything or what do i do? Im really lost.

Answer 7

Do you understand how to find the area of a rectangle?

Answer 8

You multiply right?

Answer 9

Yes. You multiply the length of its base by its height.

This gives you the formula b*h, which means base*height.

Answer 10

Yeah i understand that.

Answer 11

Okay. Now a rectangle has all sides nice and neatly square to each other, so that the length of its sides are the same as it's height.

But with a parallelogram, the sides get slanted, so that the parallelogram gets shorter the more you slant it.

Answer 12

Yes i understand that as well.

Answer 13

Great!

Now it's important that you understand the properties of a parallelogram.

If you cut te slanted section off one ens, and stick it onto the other end, you can make a rectangle out of it.

Answer 14

I understand that so far.

Answer 15

Okay. Now look at your diagram.

You'll see an 11, an 8 and a 3

The 11 is the length of its base.
Hold onto that number because that won't change.

The 8 signifies the length of a side, but in this case we can ignore it.

The dashed line is labelled 3, and is also the VERTICAL LENGTH of the triangle, so that is exactly the same thing as the parallelogram's HEIGHT.

If we "cut along the dotted line" and move that triangle to the other end, we end up with a rectangle that is 3 units high and 11 units wide.

Answer 16

Okay i follow.

Answer 17

Okay.

So now that you have a rectangle 3 units high and 11 units wide, what is its area?

Answer 18

33

Answer 19

BINGO!!!

That's the answer! :-)

Answer 20

33

Answer 21

Thank you for showing me step by step and being patient,much appreciated.

Answer 22

a^2+b^2=c^2
The figure is not drawn right but going by the measurements given I came up with 33??

Answer 23

You're quite welcome! I'm glad I could help!

And thank you! :-)

Answer 24

@dwelsher, yes. Finding that value was what this thread has been about.