Problem 1

 

Derive a formula for the area of this parallelogram in terms of a only.

[Problem submitted by Don Hentschel, LACC Assistant Professor of Mathematics.]�

 

 

 

 

 

Solution:

 

The formula for the area of a parallelogram is base times height. We use the

Pythagorean theorem to find the height: h = �= . So

area = (base)(height) = (3a)() = square units.