Geometry and

Measurement
There are many challenges to deal with when designing an
airport. Number one is to build the runways so that airplanes do
not crash into each other! In this chapter, you will see that airport
designers need to know about lines and angles, and about
calculating area. All of this math adds up to keeping air travellers
safe and happy.

What You Will Learn Key Words

φ to draw a line segment parallel to parallel
another line segment
perpendicular
φ to draw a line segment perpendicular to perpendicular
another line segment bisector
φ to draw a line that divides a line segment angle bisector
in half and is perpendicular to it parallelogram
φ to divide an angle in half base
φ to develop and use formulas to calculate height
the areas of triangles and parallelograms

MATH LINK
Throughout the chapter, you will work on a design for
your own airport runway system. To do this, you will
draw parallel and perpendicular lines and make areas
in the shapes of triangles and parallelograms.

80 NEL • Chapter 3
;DA967A:H /
-ÌÕ`ÞÊ/œœ

Make the following Foldable to organize

what you learn in Chapter 3.

Step 1 Collect four sheets of paper and

place them 2 cm apart. Keep the
edges straight.

Step 2 Fold the top edge of the paper.

Stop 2 cm from the bottom edge.
This makes all tabs the same size.
Staple together along the fold.

Step 3 Label the tabs.

Chapter 3: Geometry
and Measurement
Key Words
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
What I Need to Work On

Literacy Link
As you work through Chapter 3, take
notes under the appropriate tab.
Include information about the key
words, examples, and key ideas.

Chapter 3 • NEL 81
 Parallel and Perpendicular
Line Segments
Many city streets have
Focus on… been built using a grid.
After this lesson, Even a city like
you will be able to… Vancouver, which has
φ draw line an irregular shape, is
segments that set up this way. What
are parallel to types of lines do the
each other streets that run side by
φ draw line side form? What types
segments that are of lines do the streets
at right angles to that cross each other at
each other right angles form?

What are parallel and perpendicular line segments?

• ruler
• protractor 1. Fold a sheet of blank paper in half,
then into quarters, and then into
eighths. Unfold the paper and use
a ruler and a pencil to draw line
segments along the creases. Label
the endpoints from A to K,
as shown.

2. Identify each pair of line segments that you think are parallel. Use
your ruler to measure the perpendicular distance between the line
segments. Make two measurements, one at each end. Record the
measurements in a table.

3. Identify each pair of line segments that you think are perpendicular.
Use your protractor to measure the angles made by these line
segments. Record the measurements in a table.

82 NEL • Chapter 3
Reflect on Your Findings
4. a) Describe the two measurements you made for each pair of line
segments you thought were parallel. What do you think is true
about the distance between parallel line segments?
b) What kind of angle did you measure for each pair of line segments
you thought were perpendicular? What do you think is true about
the angle made by perpendicular line segments?

Example 1: Identify Parallel and Perpendicular Line Segments

Look at the picture of the roller coaster.

A B C

D E F

a) Are line segments AC and DF parallel ? parallel

b) Are line segments DF and BE perpendicular ? • describes lines in the
same plane that never
cross, or intersect
Solution • they are marked using
a) Measure the perpendicular distance between AC and DF in two “arrows”
locations. If the measurements are the same, AC is parallel to DF.

b) Place a protractor at point E on line segment A B C

DF. If ∠BEF or ∠BED measures 90º, DF and

80 90 100 1
1
70 80 7 0 12
100 90
60 110 0 0
0 60 13
50 0 12 50 0

BE are perpendicular. 13
perpendicular
14 0
14 0
4

0
0

150
30
150

30

160

• describes lines that

180 170 1 0
60

20
2

170 180
10

10 0

intersect at right
0

D E F angles (90°)
• they are marked using
a small square
a) Are line segments AC
and BE perpendicular? How do you know?
b) Would a line segment
joining A to D be parallel to line segment right
BE? How do you know? angle

3.1 Parallel and Perpendicular Line Segments • NEL 83

 Example 2: Draw Parallel Line Segments
Draw a line segment, AB. Draw another line segment, CD, parallel to AB.

Solution
Literacy Link Use a ruler to draw a B
For the right triangle, use
Right Triangle
line segment. Label its a plastic triangle from a
It is called a right endpoints A and B. Place math set or cut a right

10
the edge of a right triangle triangle from the corner

9
triangle because it

8
of a piece of paper.
has an angle of 90°. along AB as shown. Place

7
6
a ruler against the bottom

5
4
edge of the triangle.

3
2
1
A 50 40 30 20 10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

A
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150

Slide the triangle along the ruler. Draw along the perpendicular edge of
the triangle to create a line parallel to AB. Label the endpoints of the
parallel line segment C and D.
D B D B
Remember to mark
the lines with
arrows to show that
10

10
9

they are parallel.

8

8
7

7
6

6
5

5
4

4
3

3
2

2
1

C 50 40 30 20 10
A 50 40 30 20 10
C A
0

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

A
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150

Check:
Verify that line segments are parallel using one of these methods:
• Use a Mira. • Use paper folding.
Fold across the two
line segments. If both
Place the Mira segments can lie on
across the line top of themselves,
segments. If both they are parallel.
segments can
reflect onto
themselves, they
are parallel.

84 NEL • Chapter 3
Example 3: Draw Perpendicular Line Segments
Draw a line segment, EF. Draw another line segment, GH,
perpendicular to EF.

Solution
Use a ruler to draw a line segment.
Label its endpoints E and F. E G F
Mark a point along EF. Label this point G.

Place a protractor at point G. Mark a point H

that is at right angles to line segment EF. 60
0
70
110
80 90
100 90
100 1
0
1
80 7 0 12
60
0
13
50 0 12
Label this endpoint H. 13
50 0

14 0
14 0
4

0
0

150
30
150

30

160
180 170 1 0
60

20
2

170 180
10

10 0
0
E G F
Connect points G and H to draw a line H

0
segment perpendicular to EF.

10

1
20

2
30

3
40

4
50

5
60

6
Remember to mark the
70

7
80
angle with a small square
8
E 90 G F
9
to show that the lines are
100

10
110

perpendicular.
11
120

12
130

13
140

14
150

15

Check:
Verify that line segments are perpendicular using one of these methods:
• Use paper folding. • Use a Mira.

3.1 Parallel and Perpendicular Line Segments • NEL 85

 • Parallel line segments are line segments in the same
plane that do not intersect.
• The perpendicular distance between parallel line segments
must be the same at each end of the line segments.
• Some ways to create parallel line segments include
– using a ruler and a right triangle
– using paper folding
• Perpendicular line segments are line segments that
intersect at 90°.
• Some ways to create perpendicular line segments include
– using a ruler and a protractor
– using paper folding

1. a) What are five examples of parallel line segments in the real

world? Sketch each example.
b) What are five examples of perpendicular
line segments in the real world? Sketch
each example.
c) Share your lists and sketches with
a partner.

2. Are each of the following pairs of a) b) c) d)

lines and line segments parallel,
perpendicular, or neither? Explain
how you know.

3. a) What are two methods you might use to draw parallel line segments?
b) What do you know about parallel line segments that helps
you to draw them?

4. a) What are two methods you might use to draw perpendicular

line segments?
b) What do you know about perpendicular line segments that
helps you to draw them?

86 NEL • Chapter 3
 8. Draw a 9-cm line segment as shown.
D
For help with #5 and #6, refer to Example 1 on
9 cm
page 83.
E
5. What are the A
parallel and a) Draw two line segments that are
C D
perpendicular parallel to DE.
line segments b) Draw DE again. Draw two line
E F segments that are perpendicular to DE.
in the painting?

Composition in Black,
Blue, Yellow, and White. 9. Are the wings of this biplane parallel or
1936. Mondrian, Piet G H perpendicular? How do you know?
(1872–1944)
B

6. Identify the parallel and perpendicular

streets in the diagram.

Major Street
10. Are the red line segments on this rectangle
Main Street

parallel? Explain how to verify your answer.

North Street

Centre Street

4
11. Name and sketch at least two objects in
the real world that include
For help with #7 and #8, refer to Examples 2 and 3 a) parallel lines
on pages 84–85. b) perpendicular lines
7. On a piece of paper, draw a 7-cm line c) both parallel and perpendicular lines
segment as shown.
12. The drawing shows part of a Chinese
H lattice design. Copy the design, using only
7 cm
G
parallel and perpendicular line segments.
a) Draw two line segments that are
parallel to GH.
b) On a separate piece of paper, draw GH
again. Draw two line segments that are
perpendicular to GH.

3.1 Parallel and Perpendicular Line Segments • NEL 87

13. Dakota has a shelf on her bedroom wall
for her soccer trophies. She wants to hang
another shelf parallel to it. Use what you 15. Using parallel and perpendicular lines only,
know about drawing parallel line segments make a copy of this letter F that is 5 cm
to explain how Dakota can do this. high. Draw the reflection of your letter.

Refer to Chapter 1
for more about
reflections.

mirror

16. Draw parallel line segments and a third

line that intersects them.
1 2
3 4
14. You are designing a seesaw. You need to
place a perpendicular support from R to
5 6
CD. Copy the diagram and draw the
7 8
support.
R a) Measure angles 1 to 8 and write each
measurement inside the angle.
C D b) What do you notice about the angles?

MATH LINK
You are going to create an airport design. To begin, draw four Vancouver International Airport
runway taxi
runways and/or taxi lanes on a large piece of paper. lanes
main international terminal
• They must be parallel or perpendicular to each other. terminals
• Runways are 1200 m to 1500 m long, and 30 m to 60 m wide.
• Taxi lanes connect the runways. They are 20 m to 30 m wide. taxi
lanes runway
Their lengths can be whatever works in your design.
domestic terminal taxi
• Draw so that 1 cm represents 100 m. lanes
runway
Study the diagram for ideas.
You will add to your design
throughout the chapter.
If 1 cm represents 100 m,
what does 1 mm represent?

Web Link
To research airport designs go to www.mathlinks7.ca
and follow the links.

88 NEL • Chapter 3
 Draw Perpendicular Bisectors
Many mathematical
ideas are used in the
designs of buildings.
Focus on… These math concepts
After this lesson, make buildings more
you will be able to... attractive to the eye
φ draw a line that and make them safer
divides a line and longer lasting.
segment in half Do you see any
and is at right perpendicular
angles to it bisectors in this
photo of the Hellenic
Academy in Greece?

What is a perpendicular bisector?

• tracing paper 1. Use a ruler to draw a 15-cm line A B
• ruler
• protractor segment on a piece of tracing paper. 15 cm
Label the endpoints A and B.

2. Fold the piece of paper so that points A and B lie on top of each other.

3. Use a ruler to draw a line segment on the crease. Label this line
Literacy Link
segment CD. Label the point where the two line segments intersect P.
Bisect
Bi means “two.” 4. Use a ruler to measure lengths AP and BP. What do you notice?
Sect means “cut.”
So, to bisect means 5. Use a protractor to measure the four angles made by the intersecting
to cut in two.
line segments. What do you notice about these angles?

Reflect on Your Findings

6. What can you conclude about
a) the lengths of the two parts of a bisected line segment?
b) the measure of the angles made by a perpendicular bisector?

3.2 Draw Perpendicular Bisectors • NEL 89

 Example: Draw a Perpendicular Bisector
A bridge over a river needs bridge
a perpendicular support
under it. Draw the support
in the middle of the bridge.
river bed

Solution
Method 1: Use a Compass
Choose a point at each end of the bridge. Label one point A and the
perpendicular other B.
bisector
• a line that divides a line To draw the perpendicular
segment in half and is bisector to AB, open your
at right angles to it compass to a distance
• equal line segments greater than half of AB.
are marked with
“hash” marks Place the compass point
on A and draw an arc.

Keep the compass

opening the same
for both arcs.

Place the compass point

on B and draw a second
arc. Label the points of
intersection C and D.

Use a ruler to draw a

line segment from C to D.
CD is the perpendicular
bisector of AB. Highlight
the part of line segment
CD from the bridge
to the river bed. This
is the support.

90 NEL • Chapter 3
Method 2: Use a Right Triangle
Choose a point at each end of the bridge. Label them A and B. To draw
the perpendicular bisector, use a ruler to measure the length from point A
to point B. Divide this length in half. Locate and label the middle point C.

For the right triangle,

use a plastic triangle
from a math set or cut
a right triangle from
the corner of a piece of
paper.

Use a right triangle to draw a line segment at point C perpendicular to AB.

Extend this perpendicular bisector so that it touches the river bed. The
part of the line segment from the bridge to the river bed is the support.

Remember to mark
equal line segments
with hash marks.

Check:
Verify a perpendicular bisector using one of these methods:
• Use paper folding. • Use a Mira. Place
the Mira on
perpendicular
Fold along bisector CD. Points
perpendicular A and B should
bisector CD. Points reflect onto each
A and B should lie other.
on top of each
other.

Draw a 12-cm line segment. Label it PQ. Draw the perpendicular

bisector of this line segment. Label the point where they intersect R.
a) What are the lengths of PR and RQ?
b) What does it mean if the lengths are different?

3.2 Draw Perpendicular Bisectors • NEL 91

 • A perpendicular bisector is a line that • Some ways to create a perpendicular
divides a line segment in half and is at bisector include using a compass, using
right angles (90°) to the line segment. a ruler and a right triangle, and using
paper folding.

A B

1. What is a perpendicular bisector?

2. What are two 3. How would you explain to a friend

examples of that the post of the totem pole is a
perpendicular perpendicular bisector of the wings?
bisectors in the
real world?
Sketch each
example. Share
your examples
with a classmate.

5. Copy the line segments below. Draw the

perpendicular bisector of each of them.
For help with #4 and #5, refer to the Example on Verify the perpendicular bisectors using
page 90–91. a method of your choice.
P
4. Copy each of these line segments. Draw a) L b)
the perpendicular bisectors. Verify the
perpendicular bisectors using a method K
of your choice.
a) A b) C

B D
Q

92 NEL • Chapter 3
 6. a) Draw a rectangle with a length of 9. In some First Nations communities, fish are
8 cm and a width of 5 cm. Draw the dried on a drying rack like the one shown.
perpendicular bisector of each side. An extra support is needed for this drying
b) Where do these lines intersect? rack to hold all the salmon that were caught.
Use what you know about drawing
7. This pan balance is missing its perpendicular bisectors to explain how to do
perpendicular bisector support. Copy the this. Include the lengths shown in the picture
diagram and draw where the support in your explanation.
should be. Label the top point of the
support C and the bottom point D. Label
the length measures of AC and BC. Label
the angle measures of ∠ACD and ∠BCD.
31 cm
A B

10. Brian has built

a ramp for the
8. CD is the skateboard park.
perpendicular bisector C Y
To make the ramp
of line segment AB. safer he decides to
Point B has been add a support that is Z
torn away. Copy the 1 cm represents 0.5 m
the perpendicular
diagram and show two bisector of YZ. Draw the ramp. Draw the
A
ways to replace B. D support so that it extends from the top
edge of the ramp to the bottom edge.
What is the length of the support to the
nearest hundredth of a metre?

MATH LINK
Add one runway or taxi lane to your airport design
that is a perpendicular bisector. Explain why you
chose that location for the new runway or taxi lane. Digital rights not available.

Web Link
For information about runways, go to
www.mathlinks7.ca and follow the links.

3.2 Draw Perpendicular Bisectors • NEL 93

 Draw Angle Bisectors

Focus on…
After this lesson,
you will be able to...
φ draw lines that
divide angles
in half

Carpenters work with wood. One job a carpenter does is install wood
mouldings. To place mouldings in a corner such as the one shown in this
roof peak, a carpenter must first measure the angle of the corner. The
next task is to cut the mouldings at an angle so that the two pieces fit
together tightly. The carpenter is creating an angle bisector of the corner
angle.

• tracing paper
• ruler
• protractor What is an angle bisector? A

Literacy Link 1. Use a ruler to draw an acute angle

Acute Angle on a piece of tracing paper as shown. B
An angle that is less Label the angle ABC.
than 90° is called an
acute angle. C
2. Fold the piece of paper at B so that AB
and BC lie on top of each other.

3. Use a ruler to draw a line segment on the crease you just created.
Less than 90° Label this line segment BD.

94 NEL • Chapter 3
Reflect on Your Findings
4. Use a protractor to measure ∠ABD and ∠DBC.
a) What do you notice about the measures of these two angles?
b) What can you conclude about an angle bisector?

Example: Draw an Angle Bisector

You own a sign company. You need to paint an exit sign with an arrow
for a client. You have drawn the arrowhead. Draw the angle bisector angle bisector
of the arrowhead to complete the arrow. • the line that divides an
angle into two equal
parts

EXIT
• equal angles are
marked with the
same symbol

Solution
Method 1: Use a Compass
Draw and label the angle DEF. Place your D
compass point on E. Draw an arc as shown.
S Literacy Link
Obtuse Angle
Label the points of intersection S and T. E
An angle that is
greater than 90º and
T less than 180º is called
F
an obtuse angle.
Place your compass point on S and draw an D
S
arc. Then place the compass point on T and Greater than 90°
draw an arc. Label the point of intersection U. U
E

T
F

Keep the size of the

compass opening the
Use a ruler to draw a line segment from point E D
S same as you draw
to point U. The angle bisector of ∠DEF is EU. these two arcs.
Extend EU to make an arrow. E
U

T
F

3.3 Draw Angle Bisectors • NEL 95

 Method 2: Use a Protractor
20 30 40 50
10 160 150 140 130 1 60
Draw and label the angle DEF. 0 170
1 8 0
20 70

D
11
0

80 0
10
Measure ∠DEF.

90 80
90
100 70 60 50 40 3 50 1
Divide its angle measure of 110° in half.

110 120
U
110 ÷ 2 = 55 E

130 140
1
Use a protractor to mark 55°.

0 60
20
1
17 0

Label this point U.

0 0
F
18
0

D
Use a ruler to draw a line segment from
point E to point U. The angle bisector
U
of ∠DEF is EU. Extend EU to make an arrow. E

Check:
F
Verify an angle bisector using one of these methods:
• Use paper folding. • Use a Mira.

∠ABC is 68°. Draw the angle bisector

of ∠ABC using two methods. Remember to mark
equal angles with the
same symbol.

96 NEL • Chapter 3
• An angle bisector divides an angle into two equal parts.
• Some ways to create an angle bisector include
– using a ruler and a compass
– using a ruler and a protractor
– using paper folding

1. What is an angle bisector?

2. How could you divide an angle
into four equal angles as shown?

3. Has each angle been bisected? How do you know?

a) b)

25°
26°

4. What are two examples of angle

bisectors in the real world? Sketch
each example. Share your examples
with a partner.

5. Draw an obtuse angle and label it PQR.

a) Use paper folding to bisect ∠PQR. Describe what you did.
b) Label the angle bisector. Name the two angles with the same
measure.

3.3 Draw Angle Bisectors • NEL 97

 9. Draw an 88° angle and bisect it. Predict
the measure of the smallest angles if you
For help with #6 and #7, refer to the Example bisect one of the new angles. Bisect one of
on page 95–96. the new angles. Verify your prediction by
measuring.
6. Draw each of the angles shown.
Then, draw the angle bisectors. 10. Suki is making a dinosaur costume for
a) b) R her little brother. She has cut out a
A triangle of fabric as shown. She wants
to cut the triangle into two equal pieces.
S
Q Using what you know about angle
B bisectors, show how she can do this.
C
Use two different methods.
7. Copy the angles shown and then draw
the angle bisectors.
a) b) M
D F
N

E 11. a) Draw a square using a protractor

and ruler.
b) Bisect the four angles of the square.
c) What two things do you notice about
8. A carpenter measures this angle of a the bisectors?
baseboard to be 146°.
12. A family lives on a farm that is the shape
shown. The parents wish to divide the
146°
land equally between their son and
daughter. They want each child to have
some land that borders the river. How
a) Draw the angle. Then, draw the angle can the parents use an angle bisector to
bisector. do this? Explain.
b) Verify the angle bisector using a method
of your choice.
c) Measure and record the two angles
made by the angle bisector.

98 NEL • Chapter 3
 14. An artist wants to draw a sun with eight
light rays coming out of it. The rays will
13. Ilana built a ramp for the skateboard park. be spaced apart equally. Show how this
She decides to add a support that is an can be done using perpendicular bisectors
angle bisector of vertex X. Draw the ramp. and angle bisectors.
Draw the new support so that it extends
from X to the top edge of the ramp. What 15. Draw an acute triangle with angles of 58°,
is the length of the support in metres? 46°, and 76°.
a) Draw the angle bisector for each angle.
What do you notice about the three
angle bisectors?
b) Place your compass point at the point
of intersection of the three angle
bisectors. Construct a circle so it fits
just inside the triangle. What do you
notice about where the circle touches
the triangle?

X 1 cm represents 0.25 m

MATH LINK
Add another runway or taxi lane to your airport design that bisects the angle Web Link
made by two others. Study the diagram of the Calgary International Airport as For practise finding
an example. Explain why you chose that location for your runway or taxi lane. the best location for
airport runways, go to
www.mathlinks7.ca
Calgary International Airport and follow the links.
air
passenger aircraft maintenance area freight
terminal area
runwa y
taxi lanes

taxi lanes

runwa y runwa y
taxi lanes

air freight
area

3.3 Draw Angle Bisectors • NEL 99

 Area of a Parallelogram

Focus on…
After this lesson,
you will be able to...
φ develop the
formula for
the area of a
parallelogram
φ calculate the
area of a
parallelogram

One of the shapes a marching band can make is a rectangle. Another is

parallelogram a parallelogram . How do you calculate the area of the rectangle? Can
• a four-sided figure with you use the same method to calculate the area of the parallelogram?
opposite sides parallel
and equal in length

How do you determine the area of a parallelogram?

1. On centimetre grid paper, draw a rectangle that is 6 cm long and
4 cm wide. Cut out the rectangle with scissors.
• centimetre grid paper
• ruler
• scissors
• tape

100 NEL • Chapter 3

2. Count the number of square centimetres the rectangle covers. What
is the area of this rectangle?

3. Use scissors to cut across the rectangle as shown. Tape the two
pieces together.

4. What shape did you form? What do you know about this shape that
helped you to identify it?

5. Is the area of the parallelogram the same as that of the original

rectangle? How do you know?

6. a) Predict the length of the base (b) of the parallelogram. Verify by base
measuring with a ruler. • a side of a
two-dimensional
b) Predict the height (h) of the parallelogram. Verify by measuring
closed figure
with a ruler. • common symbol is b
c) Is h parallel or perpendicular to b of the parallelogram?
height
• the perpendicular
7. What is the relationship between b and h, and the area of the distance from the base
parallelogram? to the opposite side
• common symbol is h
Reflect on Your Findings
h
8. a) Suggest a formula for calculating the area of a parallelogram.
b) Compare your formula with those of your classmates. Discuss any b
differences and make sure that everyone agrees on the formula.

3.4 Area of a Parallelogram • NEL 101

 Example 1: Determine the Area of a Parallelogram
The parallelogram shown has a
base of 5 cm and a height of 3 cm.
Use a formula to determine its area.
3 cm

5 cm
Solution
Base (b) is 5 cm and height (h) is 3 cm. Substitute the values into the
formula for the area of a parallelogram.
A = base × height
A=b×h
A=5×3
A = 15
The area of the parallelogram is 15 cm2.
Check:
Verify your answer. Estimate the
area by counting squares.
Count full squares: 12 squares.
Count squares that are almost full:
2 squares.
Count squares that are about half full: 2 half squares = 1 full square.
Do not count almost empty squares.
12 + 2 + 1 = 15
The estimate for the area of the parallelogram is 15 cm2.

This parallelogram was drawn on

centimetre grid paper. Use a formula
to determine its area. Check your
answer using estimation.

Sometimes it is
necessary to extend
the line of the base
to measure the
height.

102 NEL • Chapter 3

Example 2: Make Calculations Using the Area
of a Parallelogram
Jessica has created a tulip garden in the shape of a
parallelogram. She is going to plant 10 tulips per square metre
of garden. Jessica’s garden has a base of 8 m and a height of
5m
5 m. How many tulips does Jessica need?

8m
Solution
• What is the area of the garden? Understand
• How many tulips does Jessica need?
1. Determine the area of the garden. Plan

2. Determine the number of tulips needed for the area.

1. To find the area of the garden, substitute the values into the formula. Do It!
A=b×h
A=8×5
A = 40
The area of the garden is 40 m2.

2. Jessica is going to plant 10 tulips per square metre. That means each Strategies
square metre of her garden will have 10 tulips in it. Look for a Pattern
1 m2 → 10 tulips Refer to page xvii.
2 m2 → 20 tulips
3 m2 → 30 tulips
The pattern is to multiply the number of square metres by 10 to get
the number of tulips.
40 × 10 = 400
Jessica needs 400 tulips.

Check: Look Back

Work backward by dividing 400 tulips by 10. The answer should be

the area of Jessica’s garden. 400 ÷ 10 = 40. The calculated area for
Jessica’s garden was 40 m2.

3.4 Area of a Parallelogram • NEL 103

 Example 3: Determine the Height of a Parallelogram
Diana has enough parallelogram-shaped tiles to cover a
section of wall with an area of 840 cm2. The design will
have a base of 12 cm. How high can she make her design?

Solution h
Determine the height (h). The base b is 12 cm and the
area is 840 cm2. Substitute these values into the formula
for the area of a parallelogram.
A=b×h
840 = 12 × h b = 12 cm
Guess and check to determine h.
Strategies Try h = 50 12 × 50 = 600 Too low.
Guess and Check Try h = 80 12 × 80 = 960 Too high.
Refer to page xvi. Try h = 70 12 × 70 = 840 Correct!
Diana can make the height of the design 70 cm.

A parallelogram has a base of 90 m and an area of 450 m2.

Determine the height of the parallelogram.

• The formula for the area of a rectangle can

be used to determine the formula h h
for the area of a parallelogram. b
b
• The formula for the area of a parallelogram A=b×h A=b×h
is A = b × h, where b is the base and h is the height.
• The height of a parallelogram is always
perpendicular to its base.

1. Explain why the area of a rectangle and the area of a parallelogram made
from the rectangle are the same. Include diagrams with your answer.

2. Deepa determined the area of this

parallelogram to be 5 cm2. 2.5 cm
a) Explain her error.
b) Do the calculation correctly.
2 cm

104 NEL • Chapter 3

 6. Draw each parallelogram on
centimetre grid paper. Determine
For help with #3 to #6, refer to Example 1 on each area using the formula. Check
page 102. your answers using estimation.
a) h = 6 cm, b = 4 cm
3. These parallelograms are drawn on
b) h = 2 cm, b = 4 cm
centimetre grid paper. What is the
area of each parallelogram?
a) For help with #7 and #8, refer to Example 2 on
page 103.
7. What is the area of each parallelogram?
b)
a)
5 cm

11 cm
b) b = 7 cm, h = 9 cm
c) The height is 6.2 m and the base is 3 m.

4. Determine the area of each parallelogram. 8. Determine the area of each parallelogram.
They are drawn on centimetre grid paper.
a)
a)

9m

b) 3m

b) b = 9.2 mm, h = 12.3 mm

c) The base is 4.5 cm and the height is
twice the base.

For help with #9 and #10, refer to Example 3 on

5. Draw each of the following page 104.
parallelograms on centimetre 9. Workers are putting
grid paper. Use the formula to new flooring in the
determine the area of each community centre. A h
parallelogram. Check your section of the floor
answers using estimation. is going to have a
a) b = 4 cm, h = 5 cm parallelogram- b=3m
b) b = 3 cm, h = 7 cm shaped design. There are enough floor tiles
to cover an area of 12 m2. The base will be
3 m. What can the height of the design be?

3.4 Area of a Parallelogram • NEL 105

10. A parallelogram-shaped stripe is going to 13. The spring thaw has caused a rectangular
be painted on the wall of a daycare centre. section of the schoolyard to flood. A
There is enough paint to make a stripe with parallelogram-shaped wooden walkway is
an area of 9 m2. How high can the stripe be? being placed over it as shown. The area of
the walkway is 22 m2. How wide will the
base of the walkway be in metres?

h
h = 11 m

b = 1.5 m
b

14. Wanda has designed a logo of her first

initial on centimetre grid paper. She wants
11. a) With a ruler, measure the base and to find the area of the logo so she can get
height of this parallelogram. Explain fabric to sew it on her jacket. What is the
how you measured. area of the initial?

b) What is the area?

c) Use a different side of the parallelogram
as the base. Determine the new height
and calculate the area. How does this 15. What is the area of parallelogram ABCD?
compare to your answer in b)? y A B

12. Which of the two shapes shown below has 4

a greater area? Explain your answer.

2
Shape A Shape B
D C
–2 0 2 4 6 x

16. What is the area

6 cm 6 cm of the yellow
portion of this
0.9 cm
corporal’s
insignia? Use a
calculator to
determine the 6 cm
2 cm 2 cm answer.

106 NEL • Chapter 3

17. A construction company is building a
road through a rectangular section of
farmland. The farmer wants to know the 19. The figure below is a parallelogram.
area of land being used for the road. What is the length of n?
Determine the area in square metres.
15 m

n
8 cm
1.8 km 10 cm

5.4 km
12 cm
How many metres are in
one kilometre? 20. What is the area of this X? Explain how
you calculated your answer.
18. a) What is the area of paving stone needed
for the patio?

10 m
6m

9.5 m
b) Paving stones cost $55 per
square metre. Estimate how
much it would cost to pave
the patio. Show your work.
c) Calculate the cost.

MATH LINK
a) You are going to include in your airport design an area that is in the shape of a
parallelogram. Add as many runways and taxi lanes as necessary to create a
parallelogram.
b) Determine the area of the parallelogram. If you have more than one
parallelogram, use the largest one.
c) You decide to plant grass in the parallelogram-shaped area. If one bag of grass
seed covers 1000 m2, how many bags of seed will you need for the parallelogram?

3.4 Area of a Parallelogram • NEL 107

 Area of a Triangle
Palliser’s Triangle

Alberta Saskatchewan Manitoba

Focus on…
After this lesson,
you will be able to...
φ develop the
formula for the
area of a triangle N
φ calculate the
area of a triangle
0 50 100 150 km

Palliser’s Triangle is the driest region of the Canadian prairies. It stretches

from southwestern Manitoba, through Saskatchewan, to southern Alberta.
Despite its dry climate, over half of Canada’s agricultural production takes
place in this region. How could you determine the area of Palliser’s Triangle?

How can you determine the area of a triangle?

• centimetre grid paper 1. On centimetre grid paper, draw a rectangle that has a base of 6 cm
• ruler and a height of 4 cm. Cut out the rectangle with scissors.
• scissors

108 NEL • Chapter 3

 2. Count the number of square centimetres. What is the area of this
rectangle?

3. Draw a diagonal line from one corner of the rectangle to the

opposite corner. Use scissors to cut along the diagonal line as shown.

4. What are the two new shapes you created?

5. Place these two shapes on top of each other. How do they

compare?

6. What is the relationship between the area of one of the triangles

and the area of the original rectangle? Explain how you know.

7. a) Predict the length of the base (b) of each triangle. Use a ruler to
measure it.
b) Predict the height (h) of each triangle. Use a ruler to measure it.

8. Is h parallel or perpendicular to b of the triangle?

9. What is the relationship between b and h, and the area of the

triangle?

Reflect on Your Findings

10. a) Suggest a formula for calculating the area of a triangle.
b) Compare your formula with those of your classmates. Discuss any
differences and make sure that everyone agrees on the formula.

3.5 Area of a Triangle • NEL 109

 Example 1: Determine the Area of a Triangle on a Grid
This triangle has a base of 4 cm and a height
of 7 cm. Determine its area using a formula.

Solution
Base (b) is 4 cm and height (h) is 7 cm.
Substitute the values into the formula for
the area of a triangle.
7 cm
A = base × height ÷ 2
A=b×h÷2
A=4×7÷2
A = 28 ÷ 2
A = 14
The area of the triangle is 14 cm2.
Check: 4 cm
Verify your answer. Estimate the
area by counting squares.
Count full squares: 6 squares.
Count squares that are almost full: 5 squares.
Count squares that are about half full:
6 half squares = 3 full squares.
Do not count almost empty squares.
6 + 5 + 3 = 14
The estimate for the area of the triangle
is 14 cm2.
You can also count
this way: a yellow part
and a green part
make a full square.

The triangle shown has been drawn on

centimetre grid paper. Use a formula to
determine its area. Check your answer
using estimation.

110 NEL • Chapter 3

Example 2: Determine the Area of a Triangle
Palliser’s Triangle has a base of approximately 760 km and a height
of approximately 390 km. What is the area of Palliser’s Triangle?

h = 390 km

b = 760 km

Solution
b = 760 km Literacy Link
h = 390 km There is more than
one way to write the
Substitute the values into the formula for the area of a triangle. formula for the area of
A=b ×h
_____ a triangle:
2 b × h means the same
_____
2
760 × 390
A = __________ Substitute the values. as b × h ÷ 2.
2
296 400
A = _______
2
A = 148 200
The area of Palliser’s Triangle is 148 200 km2.

What is the area of the triangle?

4 cm

6.5 cm

3.5 Area of a Triangle • NEL 111

 Example 3: Make Calculations Using the Area of a Triangle
An airport has two new
runways and a taxi lane
that connects them as shown.
The area within the runways
and taxi lane is going to be
seeded with grass. It is necessary
to use 6 g of seed per square
metre. How much seed is 1940 m
runways
needed for the triangular
area? Give your answer
in kilograms.

Solution
370 m
b = 370 m, h = 1940 m
A=b×h÷2 taxi lane
A = 370 × 1940 ÷ 2 Substitute the values.
A = 717 800 ÷ 2 Sometimes it is necessary to
extend the line of the base to
A = 358 900
measure the height.
The area to be seeded is 358 900 m2.
Strategies For each square metre of the triangular area, 6 g of grass seed is needed.
Look for a Pattern 1 m2 → 6 g of grass seed
Refer to page xvii.
2 m2 → 12 g of grass seed
3 m2 → 18 g of grass seed
Literacy Link The pattern is to multiply the number of square metres by 6.
To convert 1500 g to
kilograms, divide by 358 900 × 6 = 2 153 400
1000. The answer in kilograms is
1500 2 153 400 g = 2153.4 kg 2154 kg, not 2153 kg, because
1500 = ____ it is okay to have a bit of extra seed,
1000
1500 g = 1.5 kg
2154 kg of grass seed are needed. but not to have too little seed.

h h
• The formula for the area of a rectangle or
h h
parallelogram can be used to determine the b b
formula for the area of a triangle. Ab= b × h b A = b ×h÷2
A = b× h
b× ,
• The formula for the area of a triangle is A = b × h ÷ 2 or A = _____ hA = b × h ÷ 2
2
where b is the base of the triangle and h is the height of the triangle.
• The height of a triangle is always perpendicular to its base.

112 NEL • Chapter 3

 1. You cut a parallelogram along the line joining opposite vertices as shown.
Now, you have two triangles. What is the relationship between the area
of the parallelogram and the area of one triangle?

2. a) Draw a triangle to match this solution: b) Exchange with a

A=b×h÷2 partner. Did you draw
A = 12 × 8 ÷ 2 the same triangle?
A = 48 Are different triangles
possible? Discuss with
The area is 48 cm2. your partner.
3. Sofia calculated the area of a triangle with a base of 7 cm and a height
of 5 cm to be 17.5 cm. What mistake did Sofia make? Explain.

6. Draw each triangle on

centimetre grid paper.
For help with #4 to #7, refer to Example 1 on Determine the area of each
page 110. triangle, using the formula.
Check your answers using estimation.
4. These triangles are drawn on centimetre
a) b = 6 cm, h = 7 cm
grid paper. What is the area of each
b) b = 5 cm, h = 4 cm
triangle?
a) b)
7. Draw each triangle on
centimetre grid paper. Use the
formula to determine the area
of each triangle. Check your
answers using estimation.
a) h = 2 cm, b = 8 cm
b) h = 5 cm, b = 3 cm
5. Determine the area of each triangle drawn
on centimetre grid paper. For help with #8 and #9, refer to Example 2 on
a) b) page 111.
8. Determine the area of each triangle.
a) b) b = 8 cm, h = 10 cm

6 mm

9 mm

c) The base is 11.8 mm and the height

is 14.6 mm.
3.5 Area of a Triangle • NEL 113
 9. What is the area of each triangle?
a)
12. a) Measure the base and height of the
triangle shown.
h = 12 m

b = 2.4 m
b) Explain how you measured the base
b) The base is 8.8 cm and the height and height.
is half the base.
c) What is the area of the triangle?
c) h = 2.7 m, b = 40 cm
13. a) Measure the base and height of the
For help with #10 and #11, refer to Example 3 on
triangle shown. Explain how you
page 112.
measured.
10. Daniel wants to plant as many daffodils
as he can in a triangular garden. He finds
out that he should plant no more than
49 daffodils for each square metre of
garden. How many daffodils can he plant
in his garden? b) What is the area of the triangle?
c) Use a different side of the triangle as the
base. Measure the height and calculate
the area. How does this area compare
h = 1.6 m to the area you calculated in b)?

14. a) How much material is needed to make

b=2m
the two sails on the sailboat shown?
11. Workers at the botanical gardens are
building a new triangular pond as shown.
They need to fill the bottom with pebbles.
One bag of pebbles fills 1 m2. How many
bags of pebbles will they need? 23 m 26 m

2.4 m
9.5 m 12.3 m
3m

b) Would you need any additional

material for the sails? Explain.

114 NEL • Chapter 3

15. Nageen’s parents are from Guyana. As a 17. What is the area of this figure? Show at
present for them she wants to make a flag least two different ways to calculate the
of that country like the one shown. Nageen answer.
plans to make the flag 1 m wide and 60 cm 6.2 cm
high. How much green material will Nageen
need to purchase? Do not count the extra 3.6 cm
material needed to sew the flag together.
8.4 cm
Give your answer in square metres.
18. Emily thinks the unshaded region
of the parallelogram is 25% of the
middle point parallelogram. Han thinks it is 20%.
of height
Who is correct? Explain how you know.

2n
n

16. Two triangles have the same area. Do they

19. Fahad thinks the area of the white triangle
also have the same perimeter? Verify your
is 10 cm2. Amanda thinks it is 12 cm2.
answer. Hint: Draw several triangles with
Who is correct? Explain how you know.
the same area. Measure their perimeters.
7 cm 2 cm

To determine perimeter, find the sum of all

2 cm
the sides.
6 8
6 cm
12
P = 6 + 8 + 12
= 26 units
3 cm

MATH LINK
a) Include in your airport design an area that is in the shape of a triangle. Add
as many runways and taxi lanes as necessary to create a triangle.
b) What is the area of the triangle? If you have more than one, use the largest
triangle.
c) You decide to fill in the triangular area with gravel. If one truckload of gravel
covers 100 m2, how many truckloads of gravel will you need for the triangle?

3.5 Area of a Triangle • NEL 115

Key Words 7. Copy these line segments into your
notebook. Draw two perpendicular line
For #1 to #5, match the descriptions in column A
segments and two parallel line segments
with the words in column B.
for each.
Column A Column B a)
1. Describes lines A base b)
that intersect at 90°
B angle bisector
2. Describes lines
C line segment
in the same plane
that never intersect D perpendicular
3. A line that divides a E parallel 3.2 Draw Perpendicular Bisectors,
line segment in half pages 89–93
F perpendicular
and is at right angles 8. Copy these line segments. Draw the
bisector
(90°) to it perpendicular bisectors using two different
4. A line that divides an methods. Measure the two parts of each
angle into two equal parts bisected line segment. Record each set of
measurements.
5. A part of a line between a) b)
two endpoints

3.1 Parallel and Perpendicular Line

Segments, pages 82–88
6. Which of the following are parallel
and which are perpendicular?
9. A support must be placed under the pool
a) b)
table at its centre. Make a sketch of the
pool table. Draw the position of the
perpendicular support. Label the support
and label the measures of the table lengths
c) d) on each side of the support.

234 cm

79 cm

116 NEL • Chapter 3

10. You draw a perpendicular bisector of 3.4 Area of a Parallelogram,
a 30-cm line segment. You then draw pages 100–107
a perpendicular bisector of one of the 14. What is the area of each parallelogram?
bisected line segments.
a)
a) What is the length of the shortest line 3m
segment?
b) How does the length of the shortest 5m
line segment compare to the length b) b = 5.4 mm, h = 3.7 mm
of the original line segment?
15. In the flag of Congo-Brazzaville, the length
3.3 Draw Angle Bisectors, pages 94–99 of the rectangle is 2.7 times the base of the
yellow parallelogram. How do the areas
11. Draw the following angles. Draw the angle
of the rectangle and the parallelogram
bisectors using two different methods.
compare? Explain.
Measure the two angles of each bisected
angle. Record each set of angle measures.
a) b) ∠XYZ = 120°

3.5 Area of a Triangle, pages 108–115

16. What is the area of each triangle?
12. An architect measures the angle of a)
2m
a roof to be 132°. Draw the angle.
6m
132°
b) b = 5.2 m, h = 5.3 m

17. Aleta has a pasture for her horses. The

pasture runs alongside a creek as shown.
a) What is the approximate area of the
a) Predict the measure of the resulting pasture? Explain how you determined
angles if you bisect the angle. your answer.
b) Bisect the angle. Verify your predictions 1.6 km
by measuring.

13. You construct an angle bisector of an

1.1 km
80° angle. You then construct an angle
bisector of one of the resulting angles.
a) What is the measure of the smallest angle?
b) How does the measure of the smallest
angle compare to the measure of the
original angle?
b) Why is the area approximate?

Chapter Review • NEL 117

For #1 to #5, choose the best answer. 5. The measure of ∠QRS is 64°. Line
1. Which pair of line segments is parallel? segment RT is its angle bisector. What
is the measure of ∠QRT?
A B
Q
A 16°
B 32° T
R
C 64°
C D D 138°
S

Short Answer
6. Copy each line segment. Draw a line
2. Which pair of line segments is segment parallel to each one.
perpendicular? a)
A B b)

7. Copy each line segment. Draw a line

C D perpendicular to each one.
a) b)

3. What is the area of

this triangle, to the 4.4 m
nearest tenth? 8. Draw a line segment 12 cm long and label
A 11.9 m2 it AB.
B 23.8 m2 10.8 m a) Show two methods to construct the
C 47.5 m2 perpendicular bisector for line segment
AB. Label the bisector FG, so that F lies
D 95.0 m2
on AB.
4. What is the area of b) What is the length of line segment AF?
this parallelogram? 49 m
c) What is the measure of ∠AFG?
A 2886 m2
9. Draw an angle that measures 72° and
B 3861 m2 39 m label it PQR.
C 4356 m2 99 m a) Show two methods to construct the
D 4851 m2 angle bisector for ∠PQR. Label the
angle bisector QS.
b) What is the measure of ∠PQS?

118 NEL • Chapter 3

10. Use a ruler to measure the base and height 13. Manchu has drawn a
of the parallelogram. rectangle with a base of
What is the area? 24 cm and an area of 24 cm
336 cm2. He cuts the
rectangle as shown to make two triangles.
11. What is the area of ABC?
y
What are the height and area of each
C triangle?
4

2 14. Cheryl wants new flooring and carpeting

for her rectangular apartment. A floor plan
A B of her apartment is shown.
−4 −2 0 2 4 x
3.9 m 2.5 m

Extended Response bathroom

bedroom
12. A school playground has an area of 84.5 m2.
4m
sand box 8.2 m
kitchen
1.1 km 5.7 m
4.9 m living room
path
playground

9.1 m
a) How much flooring does Cheryl need
2m
15 m for her bathroom?
a) What are the base and height of the b) How much carpeting does Cheryl need
parallelogram-shaped playground? for her bedroom and living room?
b) What is the area of the path?
c) What is the area of the sandbox?

WRAP IT UP! taxi lanes

Victoria International Airport

a) Complete your airport design. Make any revisions

that you think will make it better. Add details such as
a passenger terminal, control tower, air freight area,
airport
fire hall, aircraft maintenance area, etc. Study the fire hall
taxi lanes
diagram as an example.
control
b) Write a one-page report that explains why you tower
designed your airport the way you did. runways aircraft
maintenance
taxi lanes area

passenger
terminal

Practice Test • NEL 119

Amazing Mazes
A maze is a type of
puzzle. The solver • grid paper
must find a path • ruler
through the maze. • tracing paper Digital rights not available.
Mazes are created in various ways.
The walls can be fences, hedges, or
actual solid walls. In Canada and
some other countries, mazes are
often cut into cornfields for fall
fun.
In this activity, you will design your own maze using only
perpendicular and parallel walls.
Out
1. The following steps show how to design a maze on an
8 × 8 grid. You may want to practise drawing this maze on
a different 8 × 8 grid before you design a larger one.
a) Mark where to enter and leave the maze. Use a ruler to draw the
In
path from where you enter to where you leave. All parts of the
path must be parallel to some grid lines and perpendicular to
others.
Out
b) Use a ruler to draw dead-end branches from your path. Stop
drawing when every square on the grid includes either the path
or a branch.
c) Place a sheet of tracing paper over your grid. Look at the sides
In
of the small grid squares through the tracing paper. Use a ruler
to trace only the sides that are not crossed by the path or a
branch. You have now drawn the walls of the maze on the
tracing paper. Out

2. Design a larger maze, such as a 15 × 15 square or a

20 × 10 rectangle. Challenge a classmate to solve your maze
or give copies of your maze to two classmates and see who can In
solve it faster.

120 NEL • Chapter 3

Bank Shots in the Game of Pool
In the game of pool, players use a stick, called a
cue, to hit numbered balls into the pockets of a
pool table.
To make a bank pocket rail angle leaving
the rail
shot, a player
angle
bounces a ball going
against a rail to into the
rail
send it into a
pocket. The angle
at which a ball
hits the rail is equal to the angle at which it
bounces off the rail.
If you draw a point of contact
line segment
perpendicular to A B
the rail at the point
of contact, the two line
angle A = angle B perpendicular
angles formed by to rail
the path of the ball
are equal.
Your challenge is to make the red #7 ball go into a pocket using a
bank shot. Imagine that the ball will keep rolling in straight paths and
rebounding off rails until it goes into a pocket.
a) Sketch a pool table with 6 pockets. Draw the ball on the table.
b) Draw a line from the ball to any rail.
c) At the point of contact, draw a perpendicular line segment to find
the angle at which the ball leaves the rail. Draw the angle and
extend the line until it makes contact with another rail.
d) Keep repeating step c) until the ball rolls into a pocket. How many
rebounds did it take for the ball to roll into a pocket?
e) Sketch another pool table. Place the ball at a location of your
choice. Have a classmate follow steps b) to d) on your pool table.
How many rebounds were there this time?

Challenge in Real Life • NEL 121