Area of Polygons - Overview Notes

Math is Fun - Area Formulas

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Parallelograms
Figure l

description
a four sided shape with 2 sets of parallel sides.
formula for area = b * h
explanation/reasoning

The reason why the formula for area is the same for the
parallelogram and rectangle because if you take off a little part of
the parallelogram and put it on the other side like figure below it will
make the shape of a rectangle.

 link/resource
http://www.coolmath.com/reference/parallelograms.html

Trapezoid

description
a four sided shape that has a set of parallel lines and 2 lines that are not
parallel.
formula for area = * h( b1 + b2)
explanation/reasoning

 If you make a duplicate of a trapezoid and flip on of them and then

you connect them you will create a parallelogram We know that the
parallelogram is the same thing as the rectangle. Since you have 2
trapezoids together you have to do half of the height.

link/resource
http://www.mathexpression.com/area-of-a-trapezoid.html

Rhombus (diamond shape)

 description
a 4 sided shape with 2 sets of parallel lines.
formula for area = * d1 * d2
explanation/reasoning

a rectangle because you are splitting the diamond in half and the
splitting another side in half again. if you put the together in the
right way you will get a rectangle like in the picture below

.
link/resource

 http://www.mathwarehouse.com/geometry/quadrilaterals/parallelogra
ms/rhombus.php

Triangle

description
a figure with 3 sides.
formula for area = * b * h
explanation/reasoning

 if you take the same duplicate of a triangle and place it in the correct
position you will have a rectangle or square like the picture above.
Since you are combining the 2 shapes you have to multiply the base
and height by .
link/resource
http://www.mathsisfun.com/triangle.html

Complex Tangrams (multiple polygons)

description
multiple shapes put together to create a shape.
formula for area = yellow triangle + green triangle + blue triangle + red
diamond + turquoise triangle + pink parallelogram + orange triangle

 explanation/reasoning
Since a tangram is a bunch of shapes put together. You find the area
of each individual shape and then add the area the find the area of
the tangram.
link/resource
http://www.fun-stuff-to-do.com/tangrams.html