Question 7
is any point on the diagonal of a parallelogram . Prove that the areas of triangles and are equal.
- The diagonal of a parallelogram divides it into two triangles of equal area: .
- Since both and share the same base , the perpendicular heights from opposite vertices and to the diagonal are equal.
- The triangles and share the common base and have the same perpendicular heights from and , which means their areas are also equal.
Step 1 · Identify Common Base and Equal Altitudes

In parallelogram , diagonal divides the parallelogram into two triangles of equal area:
Since both triangles share the base , their corresponding perpendicular heights from and to must be equal. Let this common perpendicular height be .
For and :
- Both triangles share the base along the diagonal .
- The perpendicular height of vertex to base is .
- The perpendicular height of vertex to base is .
Step 2 · Compare the Areas
Using the formula :
Therefore,
Hence proved, .
- Assuming Congruence: Triangles and are not necessarily congruent unless is the midpoint of or the parallelogram is a rhombus. However, their areas are always equal.
- Base Selection: Confusing the full diagonal with the segment . While is used to establish equal altitudes, is the actual base of and .
More questions in Exercise 6.2
Find the area of triangle ADE in Fig. 6.31.
The parallel sides of a trapezium are and . If its non-parallel sides are both equal, each being , find the area of the trapezium.
Find the area of a triangle, given that its sides are and long, and its perimeter is .
The sides of a triangular plot are in the ratio ; its perimeter is . Find its area.
One diagonal of a rhombus is twice as long as the other diagonal. If the rhombus has area , find the length of the shorter diagonal.
is a parallelogram. and are any two points on side . What can you say about the ratio ?
is any point on the diagonal of a parallelogram . Prove that the areas of triangles and are equal.
If the mid-points of the sides of a 4-gon (also known as a quadrilateral, but we prefer to call it a ‘4-gon’) are joined in order, prove that the area of the parallelogram thus formed will be half of the area of the given 4-gon. (You may wonder whether the 4-gon thus formed is always a parallelogram, and if so, why? These questions will be tackled and answered in the chapter on quadrilaterals.)
In , the midpoint of is (Fig. 6.32). Median is drawn. is any point on . Show that .
Given a square , let be a point within it. Join , , , (Fig. 6.33). What is the ratio of the areas of the red region ( and ) and the green region ( and )?
In , is the midpoint of . is any point on , and is a point on such that . is joined (Fig. 6.34). Prove that