1. **State the problem:** We need to find the distance across the parallelogram-shaped tabletop, which corresponds to the length of the dashed vertical height $h$. 2. **Recall the formula for the area of a parallelogram:** $$A = \text{base} \times \text{height}$$ where the base is one side of the parallelogram and the height is the perpendicular distance between the bases. 3. **Identify given values:** - Area $A = 720$ in² - Base $= 36$ in (top side) - Height $= h$ (unknown) 4. **Set up the equation using the area formula:** $$720 = 36 \times h$$ 5. **Solve for $h$:** $$h = \frac{720}{36}$$ 6. **Simplify the fraction:** $$h = \frac{\cancel{720}}{\cancel{36}} = 20$$ 7. **Interpret the result:** The distance across the tabletop (height $h$) is 20 inches. **Final answer:** $$h = 20 \text{ in}$$