If the parallel sides of a parallelogram are 2 cm apart and their sum ...
Interpret the geometric relationship between the "parallel sides" and the "distance apart." In any parallelogram, the opposite sides are equal in length, and the perpendicular distance between these sides is defined as the height. Since the problem states that the sum of these two parallel sides is 10 \text{ cm}, we can determine the length of a single side (the base) by dividing that sum by two, which gives us a base of 5 \text{ cm}. The "distance apart" is given as 2 \text{ cm}, which serves as the height of the figure.
The fundamental formula for the area of a parallelogram is the product of its base and its height (A = b \times h). By substituting our calculated base of 5 \text{ cm} and the provided height of 2 \text{ cm} into this equation, we multiply five by two to reach a total area of 10 \text{ cm}^2. This confirms why Option C is the mathematically correct choice, as it directly applies the relationship between the dimensions of the shape to find the total space it occupies.
If the parallel sides of a parallelogram are 2 cm apart and their sum ...
Understanding the Parallelogram Area
To find the area of a parallelogram, we can use the formula:
Area = base × height
Where:
- The base is the length of one of the parallel sides.
- The height is the perpendicular distance between the parallel sides.
Given Information
- The distance between the parallel sides (height) = 2 cm
- The sum of the lengths of the parallel sides = 10 cm
Finding the Base
Since we have the sum of the two parallel sides, we can define their lengths as follows:
Let one side be "a" and the other side be "b". According to the problem:
a + b = 10 cm
To find the area, we need the length of one of the sides. For simplicity, let's assume both sides are equal. Thus:
a = b = 10 cm / 2 = 5 cm
Calculating the Area
Now, substituting the values into the area formula:
Area = base × height
Area = 5 cm × 2 cm
Area = 10 cm²
Conclusion
The area of the parallelogram is 10 cm². Hence, the correct answer is option 'C'. This demonstrates how understanding the properties of parallelograms can help solve geometry problems effectively.