KS3

How to show the area of a parallelogram is base × height

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A short video showing how to prove that the area of a parallelogram is base multiplied by height.

How to prove the area of a parallelogram is base × height slideshow

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Click to see a step-by-step slideshow.
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WHAT YOU NEED: ruler, scissors, pencil, piece of card.
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STEP 1: Use the ruler and pencil to draw a diagonal line from the bottom left corner of the card to any point on the top edge of the card.
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STEP 2: Use scissors to cut along the line – you should be left with a right-angled triangle.
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STEP 3: Pick the triangle up and move it to the opposite edge of the card.
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STEP 4: Line it up to the edge of the card – you should be left with a parallelogram.
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You’ve done it! You’ve proven that the area of a parallelogram is the same as a rectangle with the same base and height. So the area is the same as the rectangle, base multiplied by height.

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