Last updated on July 11th, 2025
The concept of volume applies to three-dimensional objects, but when discussing quadrilaterals, we focus on area instead of volume. A quadrilateral is a 2D shape with four sides and can take various forms such as squares, rectangles, trapezoids, and parallelograms. Finding the area of quadrilaterals involves different formulas depending on the type. In real life, understanding the area helps in tasks like flooring, painting, or gardening. In this topic, let’s explore the area of quadrilaterals.
The area of a quadrilateral is the amount of space it occupies in a plane. It is calculated using different formulas depending on the type of quadrilateral:
For a rectangle: Area = length x width - For a square: Area = side²
For a trapezoid: Area = 1/2 x (base1 + base2) x height
For a parallelogram: Area = base x height
To derive the area of a quadrilateral, we use specific formulas based on its shape:
For rectangles and squares, the area is straightforward as length x width or side².
For trapezoids and parallelograms, the formula involves the base and height.
By knowing the dimensions, you can substitute them into the appropriate formula to find the area.
The area of a quadrilateral is expressed in square units, such as square centimeters (cm²) or square meters (m²).
Use the formula that corresponds to the type of quadrilateral:
For squares, use side². - For rectangles, use length x width.
For trapezoids, use 1/2 x (base1 + base2) x height.
For parallelograms, use base x height.
Substitute the given measurements into the formula to calculate the area.
Remember the formulas: -
Square: Area = side²
Rectangle: Area = length x width
Trapezoid: Area = 1/2 x (base1 + base2) x height
Parallelogram: Area = base x height
Simplify the numbers:
Making mistakes while learning the area of quadrilaterals is common. Let’s look at some common mistakes and how to avoid them to get a better understanding of quadrilaterals.
A rectangle has a length of 8 cm and a width of 5 cm. What is its area?
The area of the rectangle is 40 cm².
To find the area of a rectangle, use the formula: Area = length x width Here, length is 8 cm and width is 5 cm,
so: Area = 8 x 5 = 40 cm²
A square has a side length of 6 m. Find its area.
The area of the square is 36 m².
To find the area of a square, use the formula: Area = side²
Substitute the side length (6 m): Area = 6² = 6 x 6 = 36 m²
The area of a trapezoid is 64 cm², with bases of 8 cm and 12 cm. What is the height?
The height of the trapezoid is 8 cm.
If you know the area of the trapezoid and the lengths of the bases, use the formula to find the height: Area = 1/2 x (base1 + base2) x height
Solve for height: 64 = 1/2 x (8 + 12) x height 64 = 1/2 x 20 x height 64 = 10 x height
height = 64 / 10 = 6.4 cm
A parallelogram has a base of 9 inches and a height of 4 inches. Find its area.
The area of the parallelogram is 36 inches².
Using the formula for the area of a parallelogram: Area = base x height Substitute the base (9 inches) and height (4 inches):
Area = 9 x 4 = 36 inches²
A trapezoid has bases of 7 feet and 5 feet, and a height of 3 feet. How much area does it cover?
The trapezoid covers an area of 18 square feet.
Using the formula for the area of a trapezoid: Area = 1/2 x (base1 + base2) x height Substitute the bases (7 feet and 5 feet) and height (3 feet):
Area = 1/2 x (7 + 5) x 3 = 1/2 x 12 x 3 = 18 ft²
Seyed Ali Fathima S a math expert with nearly 5 years of experience as a math teacher. From an engineer to a math teacher, shows her passion for math and teaching. She is a calculator queen, who loves tables and she turns tables to puzzles and songs.
: She has songs for each table which helps her to remember the tables