Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS) Practice Exam

How can the area of a parallelogram be calculated?

1. Area = base * height

2. Area = base + height

3. Area = (base - height)

4. Area = length * width

The correct answer is: Area = base * height

The area of a parallelogram is determined by multiplying the length of the base by the height of the parallelogram. This formula, Area = base * height, is derived from the concept that the area of a shape is essentially the amount of space it occupies. In the case of a parallelogram, the height is the perpendicular distance from the base to the opposite side. This formula effectively captures the geometric relationship between the base and height, allowing for an accurate measurement of the area. Unlike other shapes, like rectangles or triangles, where the area calculation might involve different formulas, the parallelogram's area relies solely on these two dimensions. The other options do not accurately represent how to calculate the area of a parallelogram. For example, simply adding the base and height or subtracting one from the other does not yield a meaningful or useful measurement of area. Similarly, using length times width is relevant for rectangles but not for parallelograms unless you are specifically using these dimensions to represent the base and height.