Area of a Parallelogram Model

Cut the triangle off one end of a parallelogram and move it to the other: it becomes a rectangle with the same base and height, so Area = base × height.

How it works

1. Fill the parallelogram pocket with the red triangle and blue trapezoid
2. Lift the red triangle off one end
3. Fit both pieces into the rectangle pocket: same base, same height, same area

What students learn

• Area of a parallelogram = base × height
• A parallelogram can be rearranged into a rectangle
• The height is the perpendicular distance between the bases

Try these activities

1. Check with b = 10 cm and h = 6 cm: the area is 60 cm²
2. Show that the slanted side is not the height
3. Find the area of parallelograms on squared paper

Curriculum fit

In the box

• MDF tray 29 x 14 cm (b = 10 cm, h = 6 cm)
• Red acrylic triangle and blue acrylic trapezoid
• Step-by-step manual

Pairs well with

Area of a Triangle ModelMATH-125Area of a Rhombus ModelMATH-127