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Height of parallelogram area 54 cm² base 9 cm

Step by step, with the reason for every step · Parallelogram and trapezoid · Geometry

Step by step

The question

Question: find the height of a parallelogram with area 54 cm² and base 9 cm.

1 Use the rule

The height goes straight up from the base.

It makes a right angle with the base.

We know the area, so we start from the area rule.

Remember: move the end triangle and it is a rectangle.

So the area is base times height: A = b × h.

A = b × h

Now put the numbers in: A = 54 and b = 9.

54 = 9 × h

9 times h is written 9h.

Let's swap the two sides, so h is on the left.

9h = 54

2 Remove the 9

9h means 9 times h.

We want just h.

To remove times 9, we divide by 9.

We do it on both sides.

Why both sides?

The = sign means both sides are the same amount.

If we change only one side, they are not the same any more.

9h9 = 549

9 divided by 9 is 1.

So just h is left.

54 divided by 9 is 6.

549 = 6

So h = 6!

h = 6

3 Check

Let's check: put h = 6 back in the area rule.

b × h = 9 × 6 = 54

We get 54, the area in the question.

So the height is 6 cm.

Let's look back.

First: use the rule.

Then: remove the 9.

Last: check.

Answer
h = 6

Your turn

Try this one yourself, then check:

Area 54 cm². Find the height.
Show the answer
h = 9

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