If you look at either diagonal (line joining opposite angles) it forms 2 triangles that are identical, both in size and shape, but that are in different positions. So by finding the area of one using <u>base x height ÷ 2,</u> and then adding them together, you get the area of the polygon. However, you will find that that would be the same as just doing <u>base x height</u>, so the area of a parallelogram is just that.
