Use this dynamic worksheet to answer the questions
that follow and determine the equation for the area of
any parallelogram.
1. Slide the Height slider bar until the figure is
two units tall.
2. Click on the Show Dimensions check box to display the
Base & Height.
3. Can you determine the area of the parallelogram in
terms of Base and Height?
4. Use the Slide bar to slide part of the parallelogram
all the way to the right. Now can you see how to
determine the area? Remember how you determined the area
of a rectangle.
4. If you don't remember, click on the "Show unit
square" check box to reveal a unit square. Use it to
count the number of squares in the figure.
5. The number of squares within the figure is the area
of the figure. Click on the check box to "Show Area."
The area should be the same as the number of squares you
counted. If not, count them again.
6. What do you think will happen when you slide the
Height slider bar to change the number of rows? Why?
Test your conjecture.
7. Experiment by doing the following several times:
a) uncheck the "Show Area" check box;
b) move the Height slider bar;
c) calculate the area on your own using the variables
"b" for Base and "h" for Height -- click on the "Show
Dimensions" check box for a quick count of base and
height;
d) check the "Show Area" check box to verify.
e) click on the reset button in the upper right hand
corner to reset this construction before repeating.
8. When you are satisfied, write down the equation for
Area in terms of Base and Height. If you have
difficulty, raise your hand so your teacher can help.
