Area & Perimeter
Calculate area and perimeter
lessons (6)
Perimeter of Polygons
Learn how to calculate the distance around any polygon by adding up all its sides.
Area of Rectangles and Triangles
Learn how to calculate the area of rectangles and triangles using simple formulas.
Area of Parallelograms
Learn how to calculate the area of a parallelogram using the base and height formula.
Area of a Rhombus
Learn how to calculate the area of a rhombus using its diagonals.
Area of Trapezoids
Learn how to calculate the area of trapezoids using the formula with parallel sides and height.
Area of Composite Shapes
Learn how to calculate the area of complex shapes by breaking them into simpler parts.
Area measures the space inside a two-dimensional shape, while perimeter measures the distance around it. These fundamental measurements apply to countless real-world situations: calculating how much paint to buy (area), determining how much fencing you need (perimeter), or figuring out carpet costs (area) versus baseboard lengths (perimeter).
Understanding area and perimeter formulas for basic shapes - rectangles, triangles, circles, parallelograms - provides tools for solving practical problems. Learning to decompose complex shapes into simpler ones extends these skills to irregular figures, while understanding the relationship between area and perimeter reveals why different shapes with the same perimeter can have different areas.
What Students Will Learn
- Calculate perimeter of polygons
- Apply area formulas for rectangles, triangles, and parallelograms
- Find the area and circumference of circles
- Solve real-world problems involving area and perimeter
- Calculate area of composite shapes
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between area and perimeter?
Perimeter is the distance around a shape (measured in units like cm or m). Area is the space inside a shape (measured in square units like cm squared or m squared).
Why do rectangles with the same perimeter have different areas?
Shape matters! A 1×9 rectangle and a 5×5 square both have perimeter 20, but areas of 9 and 25. Squares maximize area for a given perimeter.
How do I find the area of an irregular shape?
Break it into familiar shapes (rectangles, triangles), calculate each area, and add them together. For shapes with curves, estimation or calculus may be needed.