etc.

) The area of a rectangle is the number of unit

Area of Rectangle squares that can fit into a rectangle. Some
examples of rectangular shapes are the flat
The area of any shape is the number of unit
surfaces of laptop monitors, blackboards, painting
squares that can fit into it. Here "unit" refers to one
canvas, etc. You can use the formula of the area of
(1) and a unit square is a square with a side of 1
a rectangle to find the space occupied by these
unit. So, the area of a rectangle is the number of
objects. For example, let us consider a rectangle of
unit squares within the boundary of the rectangle.
length 4 inches and width 3 inches.
Alternatively, the space occupied within
the perimeter of a rectangle is called the area of the Area of a rectangle Definition: Area occupied by

rectangle. One good example of a rectangle shape a rectangle within its boundary is called the area of

is the square tiles of unit length in your house. You the rectangle.

can easily figure out how much space the floor

occupies by counting the number of tiles. This will
also help you determine the area of the rectangular
floor.

What Is Area of a Rectangle?

The area can be defined as the amount of space

covered by a flat surface of a particular shape. It is Let us draw unit squares inside the rectangle.
measured in terms of the "number of" square units Each unit square is a square of length 1 inch.
(square centimeters, square inches, square feet,
 The formula of the area of a rectangle is used to
find the area occupied by the rectangle within its
boundary. In the above example, the area of the
rectangle whose length is 4 inches and the width is
3 inches is 12 square inches. We have 4 × 3 = 12.
The area of a rectangle is obtained by multiplying
its length and width. Thus, the formula for the area,
'A' of a rectangle whose length and width are 'l'
and 'w' respectively is the product "l × w".
Area of a Rectangle= (Length × Breadth)
square units
How to Calculate Area of Rectangle?
Now, count the number of unit squares in the
The area of a rectangle is equal to its length times
above figure. How many squares can you observe?
its width. Follow the steps mentioned below to find
There are 12 squares in total. We have already
the area of a rectangle.
learned that area is measured in square units.
• Step 1: Note the dimensions of length and
Since the unit of this rectangle is "inches," the area
breadth from the given data.
is measured and written in square inches. Thus,
• Step 2: Find the product of length and breadth
the Area of the above rectangle = 12 square
values.
inches.
• Step 3: Give the answer in square units.
Area of a Rectangle Formula
Let us take an example to understand the Now, the formula to calculate the area of a
calculation of the area of a rectangle. We will find rectangle is Length × Breadth. Alternatively, we
the area of the rectangle whose length is 15 units can write this product as (⎷ (Diagonal)2 -
and breadth is 4 units. To find the area, first, find (Breadth)2)× Breadth
the length and width. So, Area of a Rectangle = Breadth (⎷ (Diagonal)2 -
Given, length = 15 units and width = 4 units (Breadth)2)

The formula to find the area of a rectangle is A = l

× w. Substitute 15 for 'l' and 4 for 'w' in this
Why Area of a Rectangle Is Length ×
formula. Area of a rectangle = 15 × 4 = 60.
Breadth?
Therefore, the area of rectangle = 60 square units Have you ever wondered why the formula to find
Area of a Rectangle by Diagonal the area of a rectangle is Length × Breadth? Let's
derive the formula of the area of a rectangle. We
The diagonal of a rectangle is the straight line in will draw a diagonal AC in the rectangle ABCD.
the rectangle connecting its opposite vertices. Clearly, the diagonal AC divides the rectangle
There are two diagonals in the rectangle and both ABCD into two congruent triangles. The area of the
are of equal length. We can find the diagonal of a rectangle is the sum of the area of these two
rectangle by using the Pythagoras Theorem. triangles.
(Diagonal)2 = (Length)2 + (Breadth)2
(Length)2 = (Diagonal)2 - (Breadth)2
Length = ⎷ (Diagonal)2 - (Breadth)2
 = 4800 square yards

Therefore, the Area of the farm is 4800 square

yards.

• Example 2:
Area of Rectangle ABCD = Area of Triangle ABC +
Peter reads his favorite comic book in his study
Area of Triangle ADC
room. Can you find the area of the book whose
= 2 × Area of Triangle ABC length is 314314 in. and width is 112112 in?
= 2 × (1/2 × Base × Height)
= AB × BC
= Length × Breadth

• Example 1: The length and width of a

rectangular farm are 80 yards and 60 yards. Find
Solution
the area of the farm.
Length of the book, l = 3 1/4 inches
Solution:
Width of the book, b = 1 1/2 inches
Length of the farm, l = 80 yd and width of the
Area of the rectangle A
farm, w = 60 yards
A=l×b
Area of the farm A is: A = l × w
= 3 1/4 × 1 1/2
= 80 yd × 60 yards = 13/4 × 3/2
 = 39/8 parallelogram is a four-sided, 2-dimensional figure
= 4 7/8 in2 with:
So, The area of book is 4 7/8 square inches. • two equal, opposite sides,
• two intersecting and non-equal diagonals, and
Area of Parallelogram • opposite angles that are equal
We come across many geometric shapes other than
The area of a parallelogram is defined as the
rectangles and squares in our daily lives. Since
region or space covered by a parallelogram in a
few properties of a rectangle and the parallelogram
two-dimensional plane. A parallelogram is a
are somewhat similar, the area of the rectangle is
special kind of quadrilateral. If a quadrilateral has
similar to the area of a parallelogram.
two pairs of parallel opposite sides, then it is called
Area of a Parallelogram Formula
a parallelogram. Rectangle, square, and rhombus
are all examples of a parallelogram. Geometry is The area of a parallelogram can be calculated by
all about shapes, 2D or 3D. multiplying its base with the altitude. The base and
What Is the Area of Parallelogram? altitude of a parallelogram are perpendicular to
each other as shown in the following figure. The
The area of a parallelogram refers to the total formula to calculate the area of a parallelogram
number of unit squares that can fit into it and it is
can thus be given as,
measured in square units (like cm2, m2, in2, etc). It
Area of parallelogram = b × h square units
is the region enclosed or encompassed by a
where,
parallelogram in two-dimensional space. Let us
• b is the length of the base
recall the definition of a parallelogram. A
• h is the height or altitude
 From the above figure:
Total number of complete squares = 16
Total number of half squares = 8
Area = 16 + (1/2) × 8 = 16 + 4 = 20 unit2
Also, we observe in the figure that ST ⊥ PQ. By
counting the squares, we get:
Side, PQ = 5 units
Corresponding height, ST=4 units
Side × height = 5 × 4 = 20 unit2
Let us analyze the above formula using an
Thus, the area of the given parallelogram is base
example. Assume that PQRS is a parallelogram.
times the altitude.
Using grid paper, let us find its area by counting
the squares. Let's do an activity to understand the area of a
parallelogram.
• Step I: Draw a parallelogram (PQRS) with altitude
(SE) on a cardboard and cut it.
• Step II: Cut the triangular portion (PSE).
• Step III: Paste the remaining portion (EQRS) on a
white chart.
• Step IV: Paste the triangular portion (PSE) on the
white chart joining sides RQ and SP.
 The parallelogram area can be calculated with the
help of its base and height. Also, the area of a
parallelogram can also be evaluated if its
two diagonals along with any of their intersecting
angles are known, or if the length of the parallel
sides along with any of the angles between the
sides is known.
Parallelogram Area Using Height

Suppose 'a' and 'b' are the set of parallel sides of a

parallelogram and 'h' is the height (which is the
perpendicular distance between 'a' and 'b'), then
the area of a parallelogram is given by:
Area = Base × Height
After doing this activity, we observed that the area
A = b × h [square units]
of a rectangle is equal to the area of a
Example: If the base of a parallelogram is equal to
parallelogram. Also, the base and height of the
5 cm and the height is 4 cm, then find its area.
parallelogram are equal to the length and breadth
of the rectangle respectively. Solution: Given, length of base = 5 cm and height
= 4 cm
Area of Parallelogram = Base × Height
As per the formula, Area = 5 × 4 = 20 cm2
How To Calculate Area of a
Parallelogram?
Parallelogram Area Using Lengths of Sides ⇒ A = 24 sin 90º
⇒ A = 24 × 1 = 24 sq.units.
The area of a parallelogram can also be calculated
without the height if the length of adjacent sides Note: If the angle between the sides of a
and angle between them are known to us. We can parallelogram is 90 degrees, then the
simply use the area of the triangle formula from the parallelogram becomes a rectangle.
trigonometry concept for this case. Parallelogram Area Using Diagonals
Area = ab sin (θ)
The area of any given parallelogram can also be
where, calculated using the length of its diagonals. There
• a and b = length of parallel sides, and, are two diagonals for a parallelogram, intersecting
• θ = angle between the sides of the parallelogram. each other at certain angles. Suppose, this angle
Example: The angle between any two sides of a is given by x, then the area of the parallelogram is
parallelogram is 90 degrees. If the length of the given by:
two parallel sides is 4 units and 6 units Area = ½ × d1 × d2 sin (x)
respectively, then find the area.
where,
Solution:
• d1 and d2 = Length of diagonals of the parallelogram,
Let a = 4 units and b = 6 units and
θ = 90 degrees • x = Angle between the diagonals.
Using area of parallelogram formula,
Area = ab sin (θ)
⇒ A = 4 × 6 sin (90º)
• Example 1: The adjacent sides of a Let ABCD be a parallelogram where DE⊥AB,
parallelogram are 10 in and 6 in. The altitude AF⊥BC
corresponding to side 10 in is 5 in. Using the Using the area of parallelogram formula,
area of parallelogram formula, find the area and
Area of Parallelogram ABCD = (10) × (5) = 50 in2
the length of the altitude corresponding to its
Length of BC = 6 in
adjacent side.
Length of Altitude AF = (50 ÷ 6) = 8.3 in
Answer: Area of the given parallelogram = 50
in2; Altitude = 8.3 in

• Example 2: Calculate the area of a solar sheet

that is in the shape of a parallelogram, given that,
the base measures 20 in, and the altitude
measures 8 in.

Solution:

Using the area of parallelogram formula,

Area of the solar cell sheet = B × H = (20) × (8) =
160 in2
Answer: Area of solar cell sheet = 160 in2

• Example 3: The area of a playground which is

Solution: in the shape of a parallelogram is 2500 in2, with
one side measuring 250 in. Find the
corresponding altitude using the area of the
parallelogram formula.

Solution:

Area of the playground = 2500 in2

Side of a playground = 250 in
Corresponding altitude = 2500/250 = 10 in

Answer: Corresponding altitude of the

playground measures 10 in.