How to find the perimeter of a parallelogram
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SSAT Upper Level Quantitative › How to find the perimeter of a parallelogram
The base length of a parallelogram is 10 inches and the side length is 6 inches. Give the perimeter of the parallelogram.
Explanation
Like any polygon, the perimeter of a parallelogram is the total distance around the outside, which can be found by adding together the length of each side. In case of a parallelogram, each pair of opposite sides is the same length, so the perimeter is twice the base plus twice the side length. Or as a formula we can write:
Where:
 is the base length of the parallelogram and 
 is the side length. So we can write:
The side length of a parallelogram is  and the base length is three times more than side length. Give the perimeter of the parallelogram in terms of 
.
Explanation
The base length is three times more than the side length, so we have:
Base length 
The perimeter of a parallelogram is:
Where:
 is the base length of the parallelogram and 
 is the side length. So we get:
The base length of a parallelogram is identical to its side length. If the perimeter of the parallelogram is 40, give the base length.
Explanation
The perimeter of a parallelogram is:
Where:
 is the base length of the parallelogram and 
 is the side length. In this problem the base length and side length are identical, that means:
So we can write:
The base length of a parallelogram is  and the side length is 
. Give the perimeter of the parallelogram in terms of 
 and calculate it for 
.
Explanation
The perimeter of a parallelogram is:
where:
 is the base length of the parallelogram and 
 is the side length. So we have:
and:

Give the perimeter of the above parallelogram if .
Explanation
By the  Theorem:
, and
The perimeter of the parallelogram is

The above parallelogram has area 100. Give its perimeter.
Explanation
The height of the parallelogram is , and the base is 
. By the 
 Theorem, 
. Since the product of the height and the base of a parallelogram is its area,
By the  Theorem,
, and
The perimeter of the parallelogram is
The base length of a parallelogram is . If the perimeter of the parallelogram is 24, give the side length in terms of 
.
Explanation
Let:
Side length .
The perimeter of a parallelogram is:
where:
 is the base length of the parallelogram and 
 is the side length. The perimeter is known, so we can write:
Now we solve the equation for :
The base length of a parallelogram is  which is two times more than its side length. Give the perimeter of the parallelogram in terms of 
.
Explanation
The side length is half of the base length:
The perimeter of a parallelogram is:
Where:
 is the base length of the parallelogram and 
 is the side length