Year 6 - Maths
Use the area of a parallelogram formula to calculate unknown measurements
Area, perimeter, position and direction
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils will explain how to calculate the area of a parallelogram and a triangle. They will describe the relationship between scale factors and side lengths. They will describe positions in all 4 quadrants.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to use the area of a parallelogram formula to calculate unknown measurements.
Key Notes
- The area of a parallelogram is equal to its base multiplied by its perpendicular height.
- If the area of a parallelogram is known, division can be used to determine a missing base or perpendicular height.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Parallelogram: A parallelogram is a quadrilateral with two pairs of parallel and equal sides.
- Base: The base is the side which is perpendicular to the shape's height.
- Perpendicular: Two lines are perpendicular if they meet at a right angle.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils highly familiar with finding the area of a rectangle by multiplying its side lengths might overgeneralise and multiply the base by a side length rather than by the perpendicular height.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Solve this in steps: explain the method from this lesson and why each step matters.
The area of a parallelogram is equal to its base multiplied by its perpendicular height. If the area of a parallelogram is known, division can be used to determine a missing base or perpendicular height.
2. Use this key word in a maths sentence and explain it clearly. 'Parallelogram'
A parallelogram is a quadrilateral with two pairs of parallel and equal sides. Use this word when showing your method, then check your final answer is reasonable.
3. Spot and fix this common maths mistake.
Mistake: Pupils highly familiar with finding the area of a rectangle by multiplying its side lengths might overgeneralise and multiply the base by a side length rather than by the perpendicular height. Correction: Some 'red herring' examples are given in the Practice questions where the side length is given unnecessarily. You may wish to make an extra teaching point of how this is superfluous. Remind pupils of the formula, which does not include side lengths.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Describe the relationship between scale factors and perimeters of two shapes Study Guide
- Draw and complete simple shapes by plotting positions on the full coordinate grid Study Guide
- Draw and translate simple shapes on the full coordinate grid Study Guide
- Explain how to calculate the area of a parallelogram Study Guide
- Explain how to calculate the area of a triangle Study Guide
- Reflect simple shapes in the axes on a full coordinate grid Study Guide
- Solve problems involving area and perimeter Study Guide
- Solve problems involving missing coordinates Study Guide
- Use the area of a triangle to calculate unknown measurements Study Guide
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