If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website.

If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked.

To log in and use all the features of Khan Academy, please enable JavaScript in your browser.

Main content

6th grade

Course: 6th grade > Unit 8

Lesson 1: Areas of parallelograms

© 2023 Khan AcademyTerms of use Privacy Policy Cookie Notice

Area of parallelograms

CCSS.Math:

Google Classroom

Understand how to find the area of a parallelogram and why it works.

Intuition for why the area of a parallelogram is A, equals, b, h

The formula for the area of a parallelogram is base times height, just like the formula for the area of a rectangle.

But wait! Why are the formulas the same? Look what happens when we slide part of the parallelogram to the right.

Genius! We made the parallelogram into a rectangle.

Key intuition: We can make every parallelogram into a rectangle, which is why we use the same formula to find the area of a parallelogram and a rectangle.

Practice problem 1

Find the area of the parallelogram.

[Show me the rectangle to help me remember the formula.]

square units

Practice problem 2

Find the area of the parallelogram.

[Show me the rectangle to help me remember the formula.]

square units

Want to join the conversation?

Sort by:

djibrillan
Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to djibrillan's post “why does it not count whe...”
why does it not count when the number is curve
Button navigates to signup pageComment on djibrillan's post “why does it not count whe...”
(128 votes)
Answer
- dbogert29
  Posted 3 months ago. Direct link to dbogert29's post “If it was carved it can’t...”
  If it was carved it can’t have a number
  Comment on dbogert29's post “If it was carved it can’t...”
  (9 votes)
Archi
Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to Archi's post “Would it still work if it...”
Would it still work if it wasn't drawn to scale? Also, are you not just multiplying the numbers, or is there more to it?
Please explain in full terms.
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Archi's post “Would it still work if it...”
(35 votes)
Answer
- Quinn
  Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to Quinn's post “Another way of thinking w...”
  Another way of thinking why it will work is that a Parallelogram has 2 pairs of sides that are of equal length (Opposite sides have equal length).
  
  Therefore, the parallelogram will always be able to fit into a rectangle when rearranged properly => Formula of finding the area of a rectangle will work as long as we are sure that the figure that we are handling is truly a parallelogram irregardless of whether it is drawn to scale or not.
  Comment on Quinn's post “Another way of thinking w...”
  (6 votes)
Bryce Steuer
Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to Bryce Steuer's post “How come they did not put...”
How come they did not put a multiplication sign, they just put bh? shouldn't there be multiplication sign?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Bryce Steuer's post “How come they did not put...”
(1 vote)
Answer
- Alexandra Raffi
  Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to Alexandra Raffi's post “putting bh is the same as...”
  putting bh is the same as b • h or b x h
  Comment on Alexandra Raffi's post “putting bh is the same as...”
  (48 votes)
LillianB
Posted 4 months ago. Direct link to LillianB's post “pls like this im doing a ...”
pls like this im doing a challenge trying to get every badge!!
Button navigates to signup pageComment on LillianB's post “pls like this im doing a ...”
(29 votes)
Answer
Grace CX
Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to Grace CX's post “this is confusing”
this is confusing
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Grace CX's post “this is confusing”
(0 votes)
Answer
- evankome4118
  Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to evankome4118's post “if there will be only two...”
  if there will be only two numbers multiply those or act like the shape provided can be turned into a square then do it like it is a square.
  Comment on evankome4118's post “if there will be only two...”
  (8 votes)
Genosha Geno
Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to Genosha Geno's post “what is with the extra th...”
what is with the extra third number when practicing? like for example we are timesing the base and height (10 x 14 = 140) but there is a third number outside the parallelogram? we just basically ignore it?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Genosha Geno's post “what is with the extra th...”
(8 votes)
Answer
- loumast17
  Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to loumast17's post “A third number will usual...”
  A third number will usually be measuring the length of one of the diagonal sides. I would have to see the specific example to be sure though.
  Comment on loumast17's post “A third number will usual...”
  (8 votes)
Gabrielle Reed
Posted 24 days ago. Direct link to Gabrielle Reed's post “I'm only in 5th grade doi...”
I'm only in 5th grade doing sixth-grade math so its a bit hard but thank you all for your support
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Gabrielle Reed's post “I'm only in 5th grade doi...”
(9 votes)
Answer
- Baraka Chabeda.
  Posted 15 days ago. Direct link to Baraka Chabeda.'s post “pro 6th grader here it,s ...”
  pro 6th grader here it,s just multiplying the bottom line x the hight. easy peasy.
  Comment on Baraka Chabeda.'s post “pro 6th grader here it,s ...”
  (0 votes)
Nour
Posted 24 days ago. Direct link to Nour 's post “the formula is b × h=A ri...”
the formula is b × h=A right?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Nour 's post “the formula is b × h=A ri...”
(6 votes)
Answer
- solber829
  Posted 24 days ago. Direct link to solber829's post “yes and you can also watc...”
  yes and you can also watch the video again if you need some more help
  Button navigates to signup page
  (3 votes)
rflaverty
Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to rflaverty's post “how do you make the area ...”
how do you make the area of any quadrilatarel
Button navigates to signup pageComment on rflaverty's post “how do you make the area ...”
(4 votes)
Answer
- Abraham
  Posted a month ago. Direct link to Abraham's post “To find the area of a qua...”
  To find the area of a quadrilateral, you multiply the base times the height (or length X width).
  Button navigates to signup page
  (2 votes)
bruce.cherko25
Posted a month ago. Direct link to bruce.cherko25's post “how do you figure out the...”
how do you figure out the area of a circle?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on bruce.cherko25's post “how do you figure out the...”
(4 votes)
Answer
- CAL57280
  Posted a month ago. Direct link to CAL57280's post “pie2 times the diameter”
  pie2 times the diameter
  Comment on CAL57280's post “pie2 times the diameter”
  (5 votes)