PERFORMING
BASIC WORKPLACE
CALCULATIONS
In this lesson, you will be able to answer the
following questions:
• What are the different calculations that should
be made according to job requirements?
• What are the common units of measurement?
• How can one perform the calculations needed to
complete a given task?
• What are the different techniques in checking
the accuracy of calculations?
Performing Calculations
It is important to be able to measure and calculate
surface areas. It might be necessary to calculate, for
example, the surface area of the cross-section of a
canal or the surface area of a farm.
The basic unit of area in the
metric system is the square
meter (m²), which is
obtained by multiplying the
length and width of a
square.
SQUARE AND RECTANGLES
The surface area of a square or rectangle is
obtained by using this formula:
A=length x width
EXAMPLE:
length= 5 cm
width=2 cm A=l x w
=5cm x 2cm
A=10 cm²
RHOMBUSES AND
PARALLELOGRAMS
A=base x height
EXAMPLE:
base= 4 m
height=3 m
A=b x h
=4 m x 3 m
A=12 m²
TRIANGLE
A= ½ x base x height
EXAMPLE:
A=1/2 x b x h
base= 5 m
height=3 m =1/2 x 5 cm x 3 cm
=15/2
A=7.5 cm²
TRAPEZIUM
A= 0.5 (base + top) x height
EXAMPLE:
base= 5 m
top= 5 m A=0.5 (base + top) h
height=3 m =0.5 (5 m + 5 m) 3m
A=15 m²
CIRCLES
A= (3.14) x d²
4
A=(3.14) (5m)²
EXAMPLE:
= (3.14) 25m²
diameter= 5 m
=78.5
4
A=19.625 m²
Knowing and understanding
how to calculate surface areas
will help farm operators
maximize space and avoid
losses.
SKILL
ENHANCER
You are asked by your TLE teacher
to find the area of different shapes
and sizes. As part of your task you
will do the calculation and
computation. For each number,
your task is to draw the shape and
measure the sides and find the area
for each number. Here are the
given data:
• Triangle- base=3 cm; height=2 cm
• Rectangle- length= 8 cm; width 4 cm
• Rhombus- base= 6 cm; height= 3 cm
• Parallelogram- base= 7 cm; height= 6 cm
• Circle- d=9 cm
• Triangle- base=3 cm; height=2 cm
½bxh
=½ 3cm x 2cm
= ½ 6 cm²
=3cm²
• Circle- d=9 cm
A= (3.14) x d²
4
=3.14 x (9) ²
4
=3.14 x 81
4
=254.34
4
= 63.585
THOUGHT BUILDER
Why do you think is it important to know how to
estimate and calculate measurements for farming
operations? What do you think will happen if a
person does not know how to estimate and calculate
these data? Give your reflections on this matter.
