The perimeter of parallelogram WXYZ is calculated by adding the lengths of all its sides. Since a parallelogram has opposite sides that are equal, the general formula for the perimeter (P) can be stated as:
P = 2(a + b)
where a and b are the lengths of the adjacent sides. If we know the lengths of these sides, we can substitute them into the formula to find the perimeter.
For example, if side WX is 4 units and side XY is 3 units, the calculation would follow:
P = 2(4 + 3) = 2(7) = 14 units
This means that the total distance around the parallelogram WXYZ is 14 units. Understanding the relationships between the sides is crucial for quick calculations like this.