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Perimeter and Area

Perimeter is the distance around a shape. Area is the space inside. For a rectangle: area = length ร— width.

๐Ÿ’ก Fun fact

A football pitch has an area of about 7,000 square metres.

All about Perimeter and Area

Perimeter is the total distance around the outside of a shape. To find it, add up the length of every side. Area is the amount of flat space inside a shape, measured in square units such as square centimetres.

For a rectangle, area = length ร— width. Perimeter = 2 ร— (length + width). A rectangle that is 5 cm long and 3 cm wide has a perimeter of 16 cm and an area of 15 square centimetres.

๐ŸŽฎ Try it yourself!

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Real-life uses of Perimeter and Area

  • Working out how much fencing a garden needs (perimeter)
  • Calculating how much carpet a room needs (area)
  • Planning a playground or sports pitch

Frequently asked questions about Perimeter and Area

What is the difference between perimeter and area?

Perimeter measures the distance around a shape. Area measures the space inside it.

What units are used for area?

Square units such as square metres (mยฒ) or square centimetres (cmยฒ).

How do you find the area of a triangle?

Multiply the base by the height, then divide by two.