How is the area of a parallelogram calculated?

The area of a parallelogram is calculated using the formula A = bh, where A represents the area, b is the length of the base, and h is the height (the perpendicular distance from the base to the opposite side). This formula effectively captures the idea that the area can be visualized as a rectangle. If you take a parallelogram and "transform" it into a rectangle by extending the height and base, it becomes clear that multiplying the base by the height gives the same area.

In contrast, the other choices pertain to different geometrical figures or contexts. The first option refers to the area of a trapezoid, which involves the average of the two bases and height. The third choice represents the formula for the volume of a pyramid, not the area of any two-dimensional shape. Lastly, the fourth option is the formula for the circumference of a circle, which is unrelated to parallelograms. Therefore, understanding that the specific parameters of base and height directly relate to the area of the parallelogram reinforces the accuracy of using the formula A = bh.