A rhombus, also known as a diamond, is a special kind of parallelogram with all four sides being equal in length. While it may look similar to a square, a rhombus does not have right angles at its vertices. Calculating the area of a rhombus may seem intimidating at first, but this guide will walk you through, step-by-step, on how to make the process simple and easy.

Formula for Calculating the Area of Rhombus

The formula for calculating the area of a rhombus is:

Area = (d₁ × d₂) / 2

In this formula, d₁ and d₂ represent the lengths of the two diagonals that bisect each other at a 90-degree angle.

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Calculate the Area of a Rhombus

1. Measure the Lengths of the Diagonals

Use a ruler or measuring tape to measure the lengths of both diagonals in the rhombus. Make sure that you are measuring from one vertex to its opposite vertex.

2. Multiply the Lengths of Diagonals

Once you have obtained both diagonal measurements (d₁ and d₂), multiply them together. The result will be used for calculating the area in the next step.

3. Divide by 2

After multiplying both diagonals, divide your result by 2 to finalize the area calculation.

4. Write Your Answer

Write down your final answer in square units. For example, if your diagonal measurements were in inches, then your area would be calculated in square inches.

Example Calculation

Let’s say we have a rhombus with diagonal lengths d₁ = 10 inches and d₂ = 6 inches. Using our formula (Area = (d₁ × d₂) / 2), we can calculate the area as follows:

Area = (10 × 6) / 2

Area = 60 / 2

Area = 30 square inches

The area of our example rhombus is 30 square inches.

Conclusion

With the steps outlined in this guide, calculating the area of a rhombus is a simple and straightforward task. By measuring the diagonal lengths, multiplying them, dividing the result by 2, and writing down your answer in square units, you can successfully determine the area of any rhombus.