1. What is a Parallelogram?

A parallelogram is a quadrilateral with opposite sides parallel and equal in length. Opposite angles are also equal, and consecutive angles are supplementary (add to 180°).

2. How to Calculate Area and Perimeter

The formulas for parallelogram calculations are:

Where:

• \( A \) — Area (square units)
• \( b \) — Base length (units)
• \( h \) — Height (units)
• \( P \) — Perimeter (units)
• \( a \) — Side length (units)

Explanation: The area is base times height (the perpendicular distance between bases). The perimeter is the sum of all sides.

3. Practical Applications

Details: Parallelogram calculations are used in architecture, engineering, and design for calculating material requirements, structural loads, and space planning.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the base, height, and side lengths in consistent units. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How is height different from side length?
A: Height is the perpendicular distance between bases, while side length is the length of the non-parallel sides.

Q2: Can I use this for rectangles?
A: Yes, rectangles are special parallelograms where all angles are 90°.

Q3: What if I only know the sides and an angle?
A: You can calculate height using trigonometry: \( h = a \times \sin(\theta) \).

Q4: Are rhombuses special parallelograms?
A: Yes, rhombuses are parallelograms with all sides equal in length.

Q5: How precise should my measurements be?
A: Use the same precision as your least precise measurement to maintain accuracy.