Introduction to Area and Perimeter

When we measure flat shapes, there are two important things we can find: the Area and the Perimeter. Let's learn what they mean and how to easily measure them!

What is Area?

Area is the amount of space inside a flat shape. Imagine you want to put a rug on your bedroom floor; the area tells you how much space the rug will cover.

To find the area of a shape, we can count the number of square units inside it.

• Example: If you draw a shape on grid paper and count exactly $8$ squares inside it, the area is $8$ square units.
• When a math problem asks, "Which shape covers more space?", it is asking you to compare their areas. The shape with more squares inside has the larger area.

What is Perimeter?

Perimeter is the total distance around the outside edge of a shape. Imagine you want to build a fence around a yard; the perimeter tells you how long the fence needs to be.

To find the perimeter, you just measure and add up the lengths of all the sides.

• Example: Imagine a rectangle. Its two long sides are $4$ units each, and its two short sides are $3$ units each.
• To find the perimeter, add all four sides together: $4 + 3 + 4 + 3 = 14$
• The perimeter is $14$ units.

Area vs. Perimeter: A Quick Trick

It is easy to mix them up! Just remember this simple trick:

• Area = The inside space (found by counting the squares).
• Perimeter = The outside edge (found by adding the sides).