Perimeter is a measurement of the distance around the edge of a two-dimensional shape. Perimeter is an important concept in geometry and is used to calculate the length of the boundary of a shape.
Definition of Perimeter Perimeter is the distance around the edge of a two-dimensional shape. It is the total length of all sides of a polygon or other closed figure. The perimeter is measured in units such as inches, centimeters, or meters.
Calculating Perimeter To calculate the perimeter of a shape, you need to add up the lengths of all its sides.
The formula for the perimeter of a polygon is:
Perimeter = sum of the lengths of all sides
For example, let’s calculate the perimeter of a rectangle with a length of 6 cm and a width of 4 cm:
Perimeter = 2(length + width) Perimeter = 2(6 cm + 4 cm) Perimeter = 2(10 cm) Perimeter = 20 cm
So the perimeter of the rectangle is 20 cm.
Units of Perimeter Perimeter is measured in the same units as the sides of the shape. For example, if the sides of a square are measured in centimeters, then the perimeter of the square will be measured in centimeters.
Perimeter of Common Shapes Here are some common shapes and their perimeter formulas:
Square: Perimeter = 4s (s is the length of one side) Rectangle: Perimeter = 2(l + w) (l is the length and w is the width) Triangle: Perimeter = a + b + c (a, b, and c are the lengths of the sides) Circle: Perimeter = 2πr (r is the radius of the circle and π is pi, approximately 3.14)
Practice Exercise Now let’s practice calculating the perimeter of shapes.
Calculate the perimeter of the following shapes:
- Square with sides of 5 cm.
- Rectangle with a length of 8 cm and a width of 3 cm.
- Triangle with sides of 6 cm, 8 cm, and 10 cm.
- Circle with a radius of 4 cm.
Answers:
- Perimeter = 4(5 cm) = 20 cm
- Perimeter = 2(8 cm + 3 cm) = 2(11 cm) = 22 cm
- Perimeter = 6 cm + 8 cm + 10 cm = 24 cm
- Perimeter = 2π(4 cm) = 8π cm (or approximately 25.12 cm)
Conclusion:
Perimeter is an important concept in geometry that measures the distance around the edge of a two-dimensional shape. It is calculated by adding up the lengths of all sides of a polygon or other closed figure. Perimeter is measured in units such as inches, centimeters, or meters and can be used to determine the length of the boundary of a shape