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Parallelogram

Mathematics · FE Reference Handbook section

Mathematics
6 formulas
10 exam-style examples
~57 min
All Mathematics lectures

Core formulas for this FE topic

Definitions, applicability, units, assumptions and worked examples for each relation.

Worked exam-style examples

The four ways this section is written on the real exam — thoughts first, then equations, then substitution.

Example 1
Parallelogram area — solve for area — Parallelogram

A surveyor computes the area of a parallelogram-shaped parcel. Given base (b) = 29.0000 ft; height (h) = 19.0000 ft, determine the area (A) in ft^2.

Given

  • base(b)=29.0000ftbase (b) = 29.0000 ft
  • height(h)=19.0000ftheight (h) = 19.0000 ft

Find

area (A), in ft^2

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Parallelogram area.
  • Everything except A is given, so isolate A symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
  • Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
  • The parallelogram area formula relates the base and height of a parallelogram to its area.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    A=b hA = b \, h
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for A:

    A=bhA = b h
  3. Step 3

    Listthegivens:base(b)=29.0000ft,height(h)=19.0000ftList the givens: base (b) = 29.0000 ft, height (h) = 19.0000 ft
  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values:

    A=29.000019.0000A = 29.0000 19.0000
  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    A = 551.0\ \text{ft^2}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning A = 551.0 ft^2 to

    A=b hA = b \, h

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
A = 551.0\ \text{ft^2}

Why the other options are there

  • 1,102 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 275.5 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 606.1 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Handbook — Parallelogram

Example 2
Parallelogram area — solve for base — Parallelogram (2)

A drafter checks the area of a parallelogram panel. Given height (h) = 20.0000 ft; area (A) = 403.5 ft^2, determine the base (b) in ft.

Given

  • height(h)=20.0000ftheight (h) = 20.0000 ft
  • area(A)=403.5ft2area (A) = 403.5 ft^2

Find

base (b), in ft

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Parallelogram area.
  • Everything except b is given, so isolate b symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
  • Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
  • The parallelogram area formula relates the base and height of a parallelogram to its area.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    A=b hA = b \, h
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for b:

    b=Ahb = \dfrac{A}{h}
  3. Step 3

    Listthegivens:height(h)=20.0000ft,area(A)=403.5ft2List the givens: height (h) = 20.0000 ft, area (A) = 403.5 ft^2
  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values:

    b=403.520.0000b = \dfrac{403.5}{20.0000}
  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    b=20.1750 ftb = 20.1750\ \text{ft}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning b = 20.1750 ft to

    A=b hA = b \, h

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
b=20.1750 ftb = 20.1750\ \text{ft}

Why the other options are there

  • 40.3500 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 10.0875 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 22.1925 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Handbook — Parallelogram

Example 3
Parallelogram area — solve for height — Parallelogram (3)

A student finds the height of a parallelogram given its area and base. Given base (b) = 4.0000 ft; area (A) = 320.5 ft^2, determine the height (h) in ft.

Given

  • base(b)=4.0000ftbase (b) = 4.0000 ft
  • area(A)=320.5ft2area (A) = 320.5 ft^2

Find

height (h), in ft

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Parallelogram area.
  • Everything except h is given, so isolate h symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
  • Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
  • The parallelogram area formula relates the base and height of a parallelogram to its area.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    A=b hA = b \, h
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for h:

    h=Abh = \dfrac{A}{b}
  3. Step 3

    Listthegivens:base(b)=4.0000ft,area(A)=320.5ft2List the givens: base (b) = 4.0000 ft, area (A) = 320.5 ft^2
  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values:

    h=320.54.0000h = \dfrac{320.5}{4.0000}
  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    h=80.1250 fth = 80.1250\ \text{ft}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning h = 80.1250 ft to

    A=b hA = b \, h

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
h=80.1250 fth = 80.1250\ \text{ft}

Why the other options are there

  • 160.3 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 40.0625 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 88.1375 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Handbook — Parallelogram

Example 4
Parallelogram area — solve for area (case 2) — Parallelogram (4)

A surveyor computes the area of a parallelogram-shaped parcel. Given base (b) = 2.5000 ft; height (h) = 16.0000 ft, determine the area (A) in ft^2.

Given

  • base(b)=2.5000ftbase (b) = 2.5000 ft
  • height(h)=16.0000ftheight (h) = 16.0000 ft

Find

area (A), in ft^2

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Parallelogram area.
  • Everything except A is given, so isolate A symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
  • Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
  • The parallelogram area formula relates the base and height of a parallelogram to its area.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    A=b hA = b \, h
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for A:

    A=bhA = b h
  3. Step 3

    Listthegivens:base(b)=2.5000ft,height(h)=16.0000ftList the givens: base (b) = 2.5000 ft, height (h) = 16.0000 ft
  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values:

    A=2.500016.0000A = 2.5000 16.0000
  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    A = 40.0000\ \text{ft^2}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning A = 40.0000 ft^2 to

    A=b hA = b \, h

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
A = 40.0000\ \text{ft^2}

Why the other options are there

  • 80.0000 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 20.0000 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 44.0000 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Handbook — Parallelogram

Example 5
Parallelogram area — solve for base (case 2) — Parallelogram (5)

A drafter checks the area of a parallelogram panel. Given height (h) = 16.0000 ft; area (A) = 88.0000 ft^2, determine the base (b) in ft.

Given

  • height(h)=16.0000ftheight (h) = 16.0000 ft
  • area(A)=88.0000ft2area (A) = 88.0000 ft^2

Find

base (b), in ft

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Parallelogram area.
  • Everything except b is given, so isolate b symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
  • Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
  • The parallelogram area formula relates the base and height of a parallelogram to its area.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    A=b hA = b \, h
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for b:

    b=Ahb = \dfrac{A}{h}
  3. Step 3

    Listthegivens:height(h)=16.0000ft,area(A)=88.0000ft2List the givens: height (h) = 16.0000 ft, area (A) = 88.0000 ft^2
  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values:

    b=88.000016.0000b = \dfrac{88.0000}{16.0000}
  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    b=5.5000 ftb = 5.5000\ \text{ft}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning b = 5.5000 ft to

    A=b hA = b \, h

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
b=5.5000 ftb = 5.5000\ \text{ft}

Why the other options are there

  • 11.0000 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 2.7500 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 6.0500 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Handbook — Parallelogram

Example 6
Parallelogram area — solve for height (case 2) — Parallelogram (6)

A student finds the height of a parallelogram given its area and base. Given base (b) = 6.5000 ft; area (A) = 199.0 ft^2, determine the height (h) in ft.

Given

  • base(b)=6.5000ftbase (b) = 6.5000 ft
  • area(A)=199.0ft2area (A) = 199.0 ft^2

Find

height (h), in ft

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Parallelogram area.
  • Everything except h is given, so isolate h symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
  • Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
  • The parallelogram area formula relates the base and height of a parallelogram to its area.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    A=b hA = b \, h
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for h:

    h=Abh = \dfrac{A}{b}
  3. Step 3

    Listthegivens:base(b)=6.5000ft,area(A)=199.0ft2List the givens: base (b) = 6.5000 ft, area (A) = 199.0 ft^2
  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values:

    h=199.06.5000h = \dfrac{199.0}{6.5000}
  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    h=30.6154 fth = 30.6154\ \text{ft}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning h = 30.6154 ft to

    A=b hA = b \, h

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
h=30.6154 fth = 30.6154\ \text{ft}

Why the other options are there

  • 61.2308 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 15.3077 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 33.6769 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Handbook — Parallelogram

Example 7
Parallelogram area — solve for area (case 3) — Parallelogram (7)

A surveyor computes the area of a parallelogram-shaped parcel. Given base (b) = 26.5000 ft; height (h) = 7.5000 ft, determine the area (A) in ft^2.

Given

  • base(b)=26.5000ftbase (b) = 26.5000 ft
  • height(h)=7.5000ftheight (h) = 7.5000 ft

Find

area (A), in ft^2

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Parallelogram area.
  • Everything except A is given, so isolate A symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
  • Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
  • The parallelogram area formula relates the base and height of a parallelogram to its area.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    A=b hA = b \, h
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for A:

    A=bhA = b h
  3. Step 3

    Listthegivens:base(b)=26.5000ft,height(h)=7.5000ftList the givens: base (b) = 26.5000 ft, height (h) = 7.5000 ft
  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values:

    A=26.50007.5000A = 26.5000 7.5000
  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    A = 198.8\ \text{ft^2}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning A = 198.8 ft^2 to

    A=b hA = b \, h

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
A = 198.8\ \text{ft^2}

Why the other options are there

  • 397.5 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 99.3750 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 218.6 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Handbook — Parallelogram

Example 8
Parallelogram area — solve for base (case 3) — Parallelogram (8)

A drafter checks the area of a parallelogram panel. Given height (h) = 1.0000 ft; area (A) = 404.5 ft^2, determine the base (b) in ft.

Given

  • height(h)=1.0000ftheight (h) = 1.0000 ft
  • area(A)=404.5ft2area (A) = 404.5 ft^2

Find

base (b), in ft

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Parallelogram area.
  • Everything except b is given, so isolate b symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
  • Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
  • The parallelogram area formula relates the base and height of a parallelogram to its area.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    A=b hA = b \, h
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for b:

    b=Ahb = \dfrac{A}{h}
  3. Step 3

    Listthegivens:height(h)=1.0000ft,area(A)=404.5ft2List the givens: height (h) = 1.0000 ft, area (A) = 404.5 ft^2
  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values:

    b=404.51.0000b = \dfrac{404.5}{1.0000}
  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    b=404.5 ftb = 404.5\ \text{ft}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning b = 404.5 ft to

    A=b hA = b \, h

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
b=404.5 ftb = 404.5\ \text{ft}

Why the other options are there

  • 809.0 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 202.3 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 445.0 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Handbook — Parallelogram

Example 9
Parallelogram area — solve for height (case 3) — Parallelogram (9)

A student finds the height of a parallelogram given its area and base. Given base (b) = 6.0000 ft; area (A) = 461.0 ft^2, determine the height (h) in ft.

Given

  • base(b)=6.0000ftbase (b) = 6.0000 ft
  • area(A)=461.0ft2area (A) = 461.0 ft^2

Find

height (h), in ft

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Parallelogram area.
  • Everything except h is given, so isolate h symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
  • Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
  • The parallelogram area formula relates the base and height of a parallelogram to its area.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    A=b hA = b \, h
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for h:

    h=Abh = \dfrac{A}{b}
  3. Step 3

    Listthegivens:base(b)=6.0000ft,area(A)=461.0ft2List the givens: base (b) = 6.0000 ft, area (A) = 461.0 ft^2
  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values:

    h=461.06.0000h = \dfrac{461.0}{6.0000}
  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    h=76.8333 fth = 76.8333\ \text{ft}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning h = 76.8333 ft to

    A=b hA = b \, h

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
h=76.8333 fth = 76.8333\ \text{ft}

Why the other options are there

  • 153.7 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 38.4167 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 84.5167 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Handbook — Parallelogram

Example 10
Parallelogram area — solve for area (case 4) — Parallelogram (10)

A surveyor computes the area of a parallelogram-shaped parcel. Given base (b) = 14.0000 ft; height (h) = 1.5000 ft, determine the area (A) in ft^2.

Given

  • base(b)=14.0000ftbase (b) = 14.0000 ft
  • height(h)=1.5000ftheight (h) = 1.5000 ft

Find

area (A), in ft^2

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Parallelogram area.
  • Everything except A is given, so isolate A symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
  • Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
  • The parallelogram area formula relates the base and height of a parallelogram to its area.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    A=b hA = b \, h
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for A:

    A=bhA = b h
  3. Step 3

    Listthegivens:base(b)=14.0000ft,height(h)=1.5000ftList the givens: base (b) = 14.0000 ft, height (h) = 1.5000 ft
  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values:

    A=14.00001.5000A = 14.0000 1.5000
  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    A = 21.0000\ \text{ft^2}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning A = 21.0000 ft^2 to

    A=b hA = b \, h

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
A = 21.0000\ \text{ft^2}

Why the other options are there

  • 42.0000 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 10.5000 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 23.1000 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Handbook — Parallelogram

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