AREA AND

Area and Perimeter

PERIMETER

T
P OR
PASS

www.mathletics.co.nz
 This booklet shows how to calculate the area and perimeter of common plane shapes.

Football fields use rectangles, circles, quadrants and minor segments with specific areas and perimeters
to mark out the playing field.

Write down the name of another sport that uses a playing field or court and list all the plane shapes
used to create them below (include a small sketch to help you out):

Sport:

Shapes list:

Q Use all four squares below to make two shapes in which the number of sides is also equal to four.
Compare the distance around the outside of your two shapes.
Write down what you discovered and whether or not it was different from what you expected.

Work through the book for a great way to do this

Area and Perimeter H 9 1

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 How does it work? Area and Perimeter

Area using unit squares

Area is just the amount of flat space a shape has inside its edges or boundaries.

A unit square is a square with each side exactly one unit of measurement long.

1 unit Little dashes on each

side mean they are all
the same length.
Area (A) = 1 square unit
= 1 unit2 (in shorter, units form)

So the area of the shaded shape below is found by simply counting the number of unit squares that make it.

1 unit 1 2 3 4
Area (A) = 10 square units
5 6 = 10 unit2

7 8 9 10

Here are some examples including halves and quarters of unit squares:

Calculate the area of these shapes

(i)
Area (A) = 2 whole square units + 2 half square units
1 unit
= 2 square units + 2 # 1 square units
2
= ^2 + 1h square units
= 3 units2

When single units of measurement are given, they are used instead of the word ‘units’.

(ii)
Area (A) = 2 whole squares + 2 half squares + 2 quarter squares
= 2 square cm + 2 # 1 square cm + 2 # 1 square cm
2 4
= ^2 + 1 + 0.5h square centimetres
1 cm
= 3.5 cm2

2 H 9 Area and Perimeter

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How does it work? Your Turn Area and Perimeter

Area using unit squares

1 Calculate the area of all these shaded shapes:

a b
1 unit 1 mm

Area =
 whole squares Area =
 whole squares

= units2 = mm2

1 unit
c d

1 m

Area =
 whole + half squares Area =
 whole + half squares

= m2 + #
1 m2 = units2 + #
1 units2
2 2

= m2 = units2

e f

1 unit 1 cm

Area =
 whole + quarter squares Area =
 whole + quarter squares

= units2 + #
1 units2 = cm2 + #
1 cm2
4 4

= units2 = cm2

g
Area =
 whole + half + quarter squares

= units2 + #
1 units2 + #
1 units2
1 unit 2 4

= units2

Area and Perimeter H 9 3

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 How does it work? Your Turn Area and Perimeter

Area using unit squares

2 Calculate the area of these shaded shapes, using the correct short version for the units:

a 1 cm b

1 unit

Area =
 Area =


c d

1 mm

1 m

Area =
 Area =


e f
1 mm

1 unit

Area =
 Area =


g h

1 km

R E S * AR E A
UA
ING IT SQ

US
IN G
UN

UNI T

...../...../20....
US

SQ

A UA
E S * AR E R

1 cm

Area =
 Area =


4 H 9 Area and Perimeter

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How does it work? Your Turn Area and Perimeter

Area using unit squares

3 Shade shapes on these square grids to match the area written in square brackets.

a 68 units2 @, using whole squares only. b 65 units2 @, include half squares in your shape.

1 unit 1 unit

c 63 mm2 @, include quarter squares in d 64.5 cm2 @, include halves and quarters.
your shape.

1 mm 1 cm

4 An artist has eight, 1 m2, square-shaped panels which he can use to make a pattern.
The rules for the design are:
- the shape formed cannot have any gaps/holes.
1 m
i.e. or

- it must fit entirely inside the display panel shown,

- all the eight panels must be used in each design.
How many different designs can you come up with?
Sketch the main shapes to help you remember your count.

Number of different designs you found =

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 How does it work? Area and Perimeter

Perimeter using unit squares

The word perimeter is a combination of two Greek words peri (around) and meter (measure).

So finding the perimeter (P) means measuring the distance around the outside!
Start/end of path around the outside

1 unit

Perimeter (P) = 1 unit + 1 unit + 1 unit + 1 unit

= 4 # 1 unit Remember, little dashes on
each side mean they are all
= 4 units the same length.

These examples shows that we only count all the outside edges.

Calculate the perimeter of these shapes formed using unit shapes

(i)
2 units Start/end of path around the outside

1 unit 1 unit

2 units
Perimeter (P) = 1 + 2 + 1 + 2 units Sides of unit squares inside the shape not included

= 6 units

It does not matter where you start/finish, but it is usually easiest to start from one corner.

(ii)
3 units

1 unit 1 unit

1 unit 1 unit
1 unit
1 unit 1 unit

1 unit Start/end of path around the outside

Perimeter (P) = 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 units

= 10 units

6 H 9 Area and Perimeter

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How does it work? Your Turn Area and Perimeter
R E S * P E RI
UA ME
SQ
Perimeter using unit squares

TE
T
S I NG U N I

RU
S ING U N I
1 Calculate the perimeter of these shaded shapes:

RU
...../...../20....

TE

T
SQ
ME UA
RES * PERI
a
1 unit Perimeter =
 + + + units

= units

b Perimeter =
 + + + units
1 unit
= units

c
Perimeter =
 + + + + + units

1 unit
= units

2 Write the length of the perimeter (P) for each of these shaded shapes:

a b c d

P = units P = units P = units P = units

3 The shaded shapes in 2 all have the same area of 6 units2.

Use your results in question 2 to help you explain briefly whether or not all shapes with the
same area have the same perimeter.

Area and Perimeter H 9 7

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 How does it work? Your Turn Area and Perimeter

Perimeter using unit squares

4 a Draw six patterns on the grid below which:
• all have an area of 5 units2 and,
• have a different perimeter from each other.
All squares used for each pattern must share at least one common side or corner point .
1 unit
1 unit

b Draw another five patterns on the grid below which:

• all have an area of 5 units2 and,
• have a different perimeter than the shapes formed in part a .
All squares used for each pattern must share at least half of a common side or a corner
point .
1 unit
1 unit

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Area: Squares and rectangles

A simple multiplication will let you calculate the area of squares and rectangles.

For squares and rectangles, just multiply the length of the perpendicular sides (Length and width).
Length Length

Width Square Side (x) Width Rectangle Side (y)

Side (x) Side (x)

Area = length # width Area = length # width

= Side ^ xh units # Side^ xh units = Side ^ xh units # Side^ yh units
= x # x units2 = x # y units2
= x2 units2 = xy units2

Here are some examples involving numerical lengths:

Calculate the area of these shaded shapes

(i) Area = length # width

So why units squared for area?
= 4 units # 4 units
4 units # 4 units = 4 # 4 units # units
= 42 units2 = 42 # units2
4 units = 16 units2
= 16 units2

(ii) Area = length # width

1.5 mm = 6 mm # 1.5 mm
= 9 mm2 Units of area match units of side length
6 mm

All measurements (or dimensions) must be written in the same units before calculating the area.

(iii) Area = length # width

60 cm = 2 m # 60 cm
= 200 cm # 60 cm Write both lengths using the same unit
2m = 12 000 cm2 Units of area match units of side length

Area and Perimeter H 9 9

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 Where does it work? Your Turn Area and Perimeter

Area: Squares and rectangles

1 Calculate the area of these squares and rectangles, answering using the appropriate units.
a b
Area =
 # units2 Area =
 # m2
length width length width

2 units = units2 0.6 m = m2

c d
Area =
 # units2 Area =
 # mm2
3 units

5 mm
length width length width

= units2 = mm2
2 units 3.2 mm

2 Calculate the area of these squares and rectangles. Round your answers to nearest whole square unit.
a b * AREA: SQUARES

AND RECTANGLES

AND RECTANGLES
43 mm

1.4 km 7 cm ...../...../20....
* AREA: SQUARES

Area =
 # km2 Area =
 # cm2
length width length width

= km2 = cm2

. km2 (to nearest whole km2) . cm2 (to nearest whole cm2)

3 What is the length of this rectangle?

Area = 28 units 4 units

4 What are the dimensions of a square with an area of 121 m2?

Psst: remember the opposite of squaring numbers is calculating the square root.

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Area: Triangles

Look at this triangle drawn inside a rectangle.

Height
(Length)

Base (width)

The triangle is exactly half the size of the rectangle

` Area of the triangle = half the area of the rectangle units2

= 1 of width (base (b) for a triangle) # Length (height (h) for a triangle) units2
2
= 1 # b # h units2
2
This rule works to find the area for all triangles!

Here are some examples involving numerical dimensions:

Calculate the area of the shaded triangles below

(i)
Area = 1 # base # height
2
=1
4 m 5 m
# 3m # 4m Height = use the perpendicular height
2

6 m = 6 m2

The rule also works for this next triangle which is just the halves of two rectangles combined.

(ii) Area = 1 # base # height Here, we say the height

2
is the perpendicular
=1
4 mm
# 5.4 mm # 4 mm distance of the third
2 vertex from the base.

5.4 mm
= 10.8 mm2

For unusual triangles like this shaded one, we still multiply the base and the perpendicular height
and halve it.
(iii) Area = 1 # base # height
2
2 units = 1 # 1.5 units # 2 units
2

1.5 units
= 1.5 units2

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 Where does it work? Your Turn Area and Perimeter
G LE S * A R E
IA N A
TR :
:
Area: Triangles

TR
* A REA

IANGL
1 Calculate the area of the triangle that cuts these two shapes in half. ...../...../20.... ES

S
LE *A
REA: TRIANG
a b

4 units
8 units

2 units

 1
Area = # # units2  1
Area = # # units2
2 2
base height base height

= units2 = units2

2 Calculate the area of these shaded triangles:

a b 14 cm

8 mm 12 cm

12 mm

Area =
 # # mm2 Area =
 # # cm2

= mm2 = cm2

c d

7.5 units 4.5 m
Remember:
same units
10 units 600 cm needed.

Area =
 # # units2 Area =
 # # m2

= units2 = m2

e
Area =
 # # m2
4 m
5 m
= m2

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Area: Parallelograms

Parallelograms have opposite sides equal in length and parallel (always the same distance apart).

The shortest distance

between a pair of
Perpendicular
parallel sides is called
height (h)
the perpendicular height

We can make them look like a rectangle by cutting the triangle off one end and moving it to the other.

height

Parallelogram move triangle cut off Rectangle

` Area of a parallelogram = Area of the rectangle formed after moving triangle

= length # perpendicular height units2
= l # h units2

Calculate the area of these parallelograms

(i) Area = length # height

20 mm
15 mm = 30 mm # 15 mm
= 450 mm2
30 mm
A parallelogram can also be formed joining together two identical triangles.
13 m 12 m
(ii) Find the area of the parallelogram formed using two of these right angled triangles:
5m
5m 5m

12 m
13 m 12 m 12 m 13 m 13 m 13 m 12 m

5m 5m 5m
Copy and flip both
Bring them together Parallelogram
vertically and horizontally

Area = 2 # area of the triangle Area = length # perpendicular height

= 2# 1 # 5 m # 12 m OR = 5 m # 12 m
2
= 60 m2 = 60 m2

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 Where does it work? Your Turn Area and Perimeter

M * A R EA
RA :
Area: Parallelogram

 PA
RALLELO

RALLELO
1 Complete the area calculations for these parallelograms:
...../...../20....

 PA
: RA

G
a b M * A R EA

10 units 2.2 cm 3.9 cm

4.5 mm 4.6 cm

Area =
 # units2 Area =
 # cm2
length height length height

= units2 = cm2

2 Calculate the area of the parallelograms formed using these triangles.

a b
26 m 2 mm 1.6 mm
10 m
24 m
1.2 mm

Area =
 m2 Area =
 mm2

3 Fill the grid below with as many different parallelograms as you can which have an area of 4 units2.
1 unit
1 unit

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Area of composite shapes

When common shapes are put together, the new shape made is called a composite shape.

Composite just means

Common shape + Common shape = Composite shape
it is made by putting
(Rectangle) (Isosceles triangle) (Rectangle + Isosceles triangle)
together separate parts
Just calculate the area of each shape separately then add (or subtract) to find the total composite area.

Calculate the area of these composite shapes

(i) Split into a triangle 1 and a square 2 .

8 cm
Area 1 = 1 # 2 cm # 8 cm = 8 cm2
2
10 cm Area 2 = 8 cm # 8 cm = 64 cm2

` Total area = Area 1 + Area 2

2 8 cm
1 = 8 cm2 + 64 cm2 Add area 1 and 2 for the composite area

2 cm 8 cm = 72 cm2

This next one shows how you can use addition or subtraction to calculate the area of composite shapes.
(ii) 3.5 m • method 1: Split into two rectangles 1 and 2

Area 1 = 4.5 m # 3.5 m = 15.75 m2

8m

Area 2 = 3.5 m # 7 cm = 24.5 m2

7m
3.5 m
` Total area = 15.75 m2 + 24.5 m2 Add area 1 and area 2 together
4.5 m 1 = 40.25 m2
3.5 m 2

7m
• method 2: Large rectangle 1 minus the small 'cut out' rectangle 2

3.5 m Area 1 = 8 m # 7 m = 56 m2

2 4.5 m
8 m 1
Area 2 = 3.5 m # 4.5 m = 15.75 m2

7m ` Total area = 56 m2 - 15.75 m2 Subtract area 2 from area 1

= 40.25 m2

Area and Perimeter H 9 15

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 Where does it work? Your Turn Area and Perimeter

Area of composite shapes

1 Complete the area calculations for these shaded shapes:

a 6 mm
Area 1 = mm # mm Area 2 = mm # mm
4 mm

= mm2 = mm2

` Composite area =
 mm2
2 mm

1 + 2
2
4 mm

1
= mm2

b 11 m
Area 1 = m2 Area 2 = m2
5 m

# # #
3 m

6 m = m2 = m2
11 m
` Composite area =
 1 2 m2
5 m

2 +
1
3 m

6 m = m2

c 6.5 cm
Area 1 = # cm2 Area 2 = # # cm2
2 cm

2.5 cm
= cm2 = cm2
6.5 cm
` Composite area =
 cm2
2 cm

1 - 2

4 cm 2.5 cm
= cm2

d
Area 1 = # # m2 Area 2 = # m2
5 m

= m2 = m2
3 m 2 m

1 ` Composite area =
 1 - 2 m2
5 m

2
= m2
3 m 2 m

16 H 9 Area and Perimeter

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Where does it work? Your Turn Area and Perimeter

AREA OF COMPOSITE
Area of composite shapes

SHAPES *

SHAPES *
2 Calculate the area of these composite shapes, showing all working: ...../...../20....
AREA OF COMPOSITE
a 13 cm

5 cm
12 cm
Area = cm2

b psst: change all the units to metres first.

300 cm

200 cm Area = m2

4.5 m

2 mm
Area = mm2

d psst: this one needs three area calculations

6 units
10 units

5 units

Area = units2

Area and Perimeter H 9 17

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Perimeter of simple shapes

By adding together the lengths of each side, the perimeter of all common shapes can be found.
Start/finish Start/finish

width side 2 side 3

Square (y units) Rectangle (y units) Triangle (z units)

side (x units) length (x units) side 1 (x units) Start/finish

P = 4 # side length P = width + length + width + length P = side 1 + side 2 + side 3

= 4 # x units = ^ y + x + y + xh units = x + y + z units
= 4x units = ^2 # xh + ^2 # yh units
= 2x + 2y units You can start/end at any
vertex of the shape
Here are some examples involving numerical dimensions:

Calculate the perimeter of these common shapes

(i)
11 units 8 units 11 units 8 units Sum of all the side lengths

Start/finish
10 units 10 units
Perimeter = 11 units + 8 units + 10 units
= 29 units
2.3 cm
(ii) Start/finish

2.3 cm 2.3 cm Four lots of the same side length

2.3 cm 2.3 cm
Perimeter = 4 # 2.3 cm
= 9.2 cm
All measurements must be in the same units before calculating perimeter.
(iii) The perimeter for parallelograms is done the same as for rectangles. Calculate this perimeter in mm.
15 mm 15 mm
Start/finish

0.5 cm 5 mm 5 mm All side lengths in mm

15 mm

Perimeter = 2 # 15 mm + 2 # 5 mm Opposite sides in pairs

= 30 mm + 10 mm
= 40 mm

18 H 9 Area and Perimeter

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Where does it work? Your Turn Area and Perimeter
OF SIMPLE SHAPES *

PERIMETER
...../...../20....
PERIMETER
Perimeter of simple shapes
1 Complete the perimeter calculations for these shapes: OF SIMPLE SHAPES *

a
17 units Perimeter =
 units + units + units

8 units
15 units = units

b Perimeter =
 2# mm + 2 # mm
9 mm

= mm
6 mm

c Perimeter =
 # m

= m
5m
d Perimeter =
 2# cm + cm
11 cm
= cm
5m
2 Calculate the perimeter of the shapes below, using the space to show all working:

a b

15 m

5.8 cm

Perimeter =
 cm Perimeter =
 m

c d

1.6 mm 3 m 5 m

3.4 m

2.4 mm 1.6 m 2.4 m

Perimeter =
 mm Perimeter =
 m

Area and Perimeter H 9 19

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 Where does it work? Your Turn Area and Perimeter

Perimeter of simple shapes

3 Find the perimeter of each shape written using the smaller units of measurement in each diagram.

a in cm. b in mm.
550 cm

600 cm 16.5 cm
3m

225 mm

Perimeter =
 cm Perimeter =
 mm

4 Each shape below has its perimeter written inside and is missing one of the side length values.
Rule a straight line between each shape and the correct missing side length on the right to answer:
How many straight sides does an icosagon have?
8 m
P = 24 m
F V
2.4 m
5.2 m N
d
4.4 m P = 12 m b L 3.5 m
T
a E 380 cm
c
P = 32 m
S 440 cm
9 m
W v
b 2 m
m
P = 14 m H 7 m
E c
T
d 650 cm
N
6.5 m
a R 1.1 m
P = 18 m c
v
G
Y 6 m

1.6 m P = 12 m 5 m

a b c d m v

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Perimeter of composite shapes

The lengths of the unlabelled sides must be found in composite shapes before calculating their perimeter.

? m (3 + 3.5) m = 6.5 m

2 m 2 m

7 m 3.5 m 7 m 3.5 m

? m (7 - 2) m = 5 m

Start/finish
3 m 3 m

` Perimeter = 7 m + 6.5 m + 2 m + 3.5 m + 5 m + 3 m

= 27 m

Here are some more examples.

Calculate the perimeter of these composite shapes

(i) 9 cm

12 cm 130 mm
9 cm

5 cm 12 cm 13 cm Calculate each side length of the shape in the same units

9 cm + 5 cm = 14 cm

` Perimeter = 9 cm + 13 cm + 14 cm + 12 cm
= 48 cm

You can also imagine the

(ii) sides re-positioned to make
3 m
the calculation easier

6 m ^6 m - 3 mh ' 2 = 1.5 m

3 m 3 m
1.5 m + 1.5 m = 3 m

6 m 6 m

` Perimeter = 6 # 1.5 m + 3 m + 6 m ` Perimeter = 2 # 6 m + 2 # 3 m

= 18 m = 18 m

Area and Perimeter H 9 21

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 Where does it work? Your Turn Area and Perimeter

Perimeter of composite shapes

1 Calculate the value of the sides labelled a and b in each of these composite shapes:
13 m 3.4 mm
a b

2.2 mm 1 mm
2 cm
a = cm a = mm
a b
b
1.6 mm

8 cm
b = cm b = mm
a

c 15 m d 5 cm
a = m 4.8 cm a = cm
b
a
14 cm
b = m 8 cm b = cm
a 18 m

b
15 cm

2 Calculate the perimeter of these composite shapes:

E R I ME T
a Perimeter =
 # cm *P E
S

R
E
9.8 mm

AP

OF
POSITE SH

COM
= cm

POSITE SH
C OM 2 1 3
...../...../20....
a m OF

AP
b Perimeter =
 2 # a m + 2 # m S

E
R
*P E
ERIMET
2 m
= m+ m
4 m

Be careful with the units for these next two = m

c
1.2 cm Perimeter =
 3# mm + mm + mm
20 mm

= mm
16 mm

d
Perimeter =
 # 4.1 cm + # cm
4.1 cm

= cm
38 mm

22 H 9 Area and Perimeter

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Where does it work? Your Turn Area and Perimeter

Perimeter of composite shapes

3 Calculate the perimeter of these composite shapes in the units given in square brackets.
Show all working.

a 6mm @ b 6m @

4 mm
2.2 m

Perimeter =
 mm Perimeter =
 m

c 6cm @ d 6km @ psst: 1 km = 1000 m

48 mm
1.5 km
3.6 cm

1200 m
22 mm

Perimeter =
 cm Perimeter =
 km

4 Earn an awesome passport stamp for this one!

The incomplete geometric path shown below is being constructed using a combination of
the following shaped pavers: 1 m 1 m 2 m 2 m
1 m 1.41 m 1.41 m 2 m
AWE
The gap in between each part of the spiral path is always 1 m wide. SOM
E A
E

WES
SOM

Calculate what the total perimeter of this path will be when finished. OME
...../.....
/20....
AWE

Completed path
AWE

1 m 1 m ME
ESO AW
SOM

OME S
AWE
E

Total perimeter of completed path = m

Area and Perimeter H 9 23

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 Where does it work? Your Turn Area and Perimeter

Perimeter of composite shapes

5 The four composite shapes below have been formed using five, unit squares.

a Using your knowledge of perimeter and the grid below, combine all four pieces to create two
different shapes so that:
• One shape has the smallest possible perimeter.
• The other has the largest possible perimeter.
All shapes must be connected by at least one whole side of a unit square.
1 unit
1 unit

b Briefly describe the strategy you used to achieve each outcome below:
• A shape with the smallest possible perimeter.

• A shape with the largest possible perimeter.

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Simple word problems involving area and perimeter

Sometimes we can only communicate ideas or problems through words.
So it is important to be able to take written/spoken information and turn it into something useful.
For example,
Miguel wants to paint a square. He has just enough paint to create a line 240 cm long.
What is the longest length each side of the square can be if he wishes to use all of the paint?

To use up all the paint, the total perimeter of the square must equal 240 cm.

So each side length = 240 cm ' 4

= 60 cm
` The longest length each side of the square painted by Miguel can be is 60 cm.
This is useful for Miguel to know because if he painted the first side too long, he would run out of paint!

Here are some more examples

(i) A rectangular park is four times longer than it is wide. If the park is 90 m long, how much area
does this park cover?
^90 ' 4h m = 22.5 m Draw diagram to illustrate problem

90 m

Area = length # width

= 90 m # 22.5 m
= 2025 m2

(ii) At a fun run, competitors run straight for 0.9 km before turning left 90 degrees to run straight for a
further 1.2 km. The course has one final corner which leads back to the start along a straight 1.5 km
long street. How many laps of this course do competitors complete if they run a total of 18 km?
1.2 km

1.5 km 0.9 km Draw diagram to illustrate problem

Start/finish

Perimeter of course = 0.9 km + 1.2 km + 1.5 km

= 3.6 km Perimeter will be the length of each lap

` Length of each lap of the course is 3.6 km

` Number of laps = 18 km ' 3.6 km Race distance divided by the length of each lap

=5
` Competitors must complete 5 laps of the course to finish

Area and Perimeter H 9 25

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 Where does it work? Your Turn Area and Perimeter

Simple word problems involving area and perimeter

1 Three equilateral triangles, each with sides of length 3 cm have been placed together to make one
closed four-sided shape. Each triangle shares at least one whole side with another.
Calculate the perimeter of the shape formed.

2 a Use all four squares below to make two shapes in which the number of
sides is also equal to four. Compare the distance around the outside of your
two shapes and explain what this shows us about the relationship between
area and perimeter.

b You have been employed by a fabric design company called Double Geometrics. Your first task
as a pattern maker is to design the following using all seven identical squares:
“Closed shapes for a new pattern in which the value of their perimeter is twice the value of their
area.” Draw five possible different patterns that match this design request.

3 The base length of a right-angled triangle is one fifth of its height. If the base of this triangle is
4.2 m, calculate the area of the triangle.

SIMPLE WORD
PROBLEMS
INVOLVING
AREA AND
PERIMETER
...../...../20....

26 H 9 Area and Perimeter

SERIES TOPIC Mathletics Passport © 3P Learning
Where does it work? Your Turn Area and Perimeter

Simple word problems involving area and perimeter

4 An architect is asked to design an art gallery building. One of the design rules is that the floor must
be a rectangle shape with an area of 64 m2.
a If only whole metre measurements can be used, sketch all the different possible floor dimensions.

b Another design rule is to try ensure a large perimeter so there is more space to hang paintings
from. Use calculations to show which floor plan will have the largest perimeter.

c Would the design with the largest possible perimeter be a good choice?
Explain briefly why/why not.

d A small art piece at the gallery has one side of an envelope completely covered in stamps
like the one pictured below. How many of these stamps were needed to cover one side of an
envelope 12.5 cm wide and 24.5 cm long if they all fit perfectly without any edges overlapping?

2.5 cm

3.5 cm

12.5 cm

24.5 cm

Area and Perimeter H 9 27

Mathletics Passport © 3P Learning SERIES TOPIC
 Where does it work? Your Turn Area and Perimeter

Simple word problems involving area and perimeter

5 A fence used to close off a parallelogram-shaped area is being rearranged to create a square area
with the same perimeter. The short side of the area is 34 m long (half the length of the long side).

a How long will each side of the new square area be after using the whole length of this fence?

34 m

b If the distance between the longer sides of the original area was 30 m and the length did not
change, use calculations to show which fencing arrangement surrounded the largest area.

6 A wall is created by stacking equal-sized rectangular bricks on top of each other as shown.
The end of each rectangle sits exactly half-way along the long side of the rectangle underneath it.
Each brick = 16 cm
28 cm

a A 500 mL tin of white paint has been purchased to paint the wall. The instructions on the
paint tin say this is enough to cover an area of 11 500 cm2.
Use calculations to show that there is enough paint in the tin to cover side of the wall.

b If a beetle walked all around the outside of the wall (including along the ground), how many
metres did it walk?

28 H 9 Area and Perimeter

SERIES TOPIC Mathletics Passport © 3P Learning
 What else can you do? Area and Perimeter

Rhombus and Kite shapes

The area for both of these shapes can be calculated the same way using the length of their diagonals.
A B A Rhombus is a
• A rhombus is like a square parallelogram. parallelogram, so
we can also use
Area = ^diagonal lengths multiplied togetherh ' 2 the same rule to
= ^ AC # BDh ' 2
find the area:
D C

Perimeter = 4 # length of one side

height
= 4 # AB
B
length
• A kite has two pairs of equal sides which are adjacent (next to) each other.
Area = ^diagonal lengths multiplied togetherh ' 2
A C

= ^ AC # BDh ' 2

Perimeter = 2 # short side + 2 # long side

D = 2 # AB + 2 # AD
Here are some examples:

Calculate the area and perimeter of these shapes

(i) For this rhombus, WY = 12 cm and XZ = 16 cm.

W X Area = ^diagonal lengths multiplied togetherh ' 2
= ^12 cm # 16 cmh ' 2
= 96 cm2
Z Y
10 cm
Perimeter = 4 # length of sides
= 4 # 10 cm
= 40 cm

(ii) For the kite ABCD shown below, AC = 4.7 m and BD = 2.1 m.

B Area = ^diagonal lengths multiplied togetherh ' 2

1.5 m
A = ^2.1 m # 4.7 mh ' 2
3.7 m
= 4.935 m2

D
C Perimeter = 2 # short side + 2 # long side
= 2 # 1.5 m + 2 # 3.7 m
= 10.4 m

Area and Perimeter H 9 29

Mathletics Passport © 3P Learning SERIES TOPIC
 What else can you do? Your Turn Area and Perimeter
R H O M B US
S A

ND
KITE SHAP
Rhombus and Kite shapes

KITE SHAP
1 Calculate the area and perimeter of these shapes:
...../ 20....
...../

ND
A S

E
R H O MB U S
a PR = 18 cm and QS = 52 cm b BD = 1.8 mm and AC = 2.4 mm
Q

A B
41 cm

P R
D C
15 cm 3.6 mm
S

Area =
 # ' cm2 Area =
 # # 1 mm2 '2 =# 1
2 2

= cm2 = mm2

Perimeter =
 2# +2# cm Perimeter =
 # mm

= cm = mm

2 Calculate the perimeter of these composite shapes:

a b

14 m
6.5 cm

3.4 cm

5.1 cm
9 m

Perimeter =
 m Perimeter =
 cm

3 Calculate the area of this composite shape, showing all working when:

J
HL = 30 m, IK = IM = 16 m and JL = 21 m

H I
K

M L
Area =
 m2

30 H 9 Area and Perimeter

SERIES TOPIC Mathletics Passport © 3P Learning
 What else can you do? Area and Perimeter

Trapeziums

A trapezium is a quadrilateral which has at least one pair of parallel sides.

Squares, rectangles, parallelograms and rhombi are all just special types of trapeziums.

So the area formula for a trapezium would also work on all of those shapes.
a a
A B A B

height (h) height (h)

C D C D
b b
Two common trapezium shapes
In both shapes, the sides AB (a) and CD (b) are parallel (AB || CD) .
The height is the perpendicular distance between the parallel sides.
: Area = ^sum of the parallel sidesh # height ' 2
= ^ a + bh # h ' 2

: Perimeter = AB + BD + CD + AC
Here are some examples:

Calculate the area and perimeter of these shapes

(i) Area = ^sum of the parallel sidesh # height ' 2

20 mm
= ^22 mm + 10 mmh # 16 mm ' 2
= 32 mm # 16 mm ' 2
10 mm 22 mm = 256 mm2

Perimeter = 20 mm + 22 mm + 16 mm + 10 mm
16 mm
= 68 mm

(ii) 6.7 m Area = ^sum of the parallel sidesh # height ' 2

2.9 m 2 m
10.1 m = ^6.7 m + 14.5 mh # 2 m ' 2
= 21.2 m # 2 m ' 2
14.5 m
= 21.2 m2

Perimeter = 6.7 m + 10.1 m + 14.5 m + 2.9 m

= 34.2 m

Area and Perimeter H 9 31

Mathletics Passport © 3P Learning SERIES TOPIC
 What else can you do? Your Turn Area and Perimeter
Z IUMS * TR
PE A

PE
A
Trapeziums

U MS * T R

ZI U
MS * T
1 Calculate the area and perimeter of these trapeziums:

ZI
...../...../20....

R
PE
PE

A
A ZI
a 1 km b 12.5 m UMS * TR

15 km 41 km
9 km 1.8 m 8.2 m

53 km 4.5 m

Area =
 + # ' 2 km2 Area =
 + # ' 2 m2

= km2 = m2

Perimeter =
 km Perimeter =
 m

2 Use the trapezium method to calculate the area of these composite plane shapes.
a b
8 cm

5 cm
1 mm 2.4 mm 14.3 mm
15 cm

Area =
 cm2 Area =
 mm2

3 Use the trapezium method to calculate the area of this composite plane shapes.

16.7 m
33.4 m
1 2
170 cm
240 cm

Area =
 m2 Perimeter =
 m

32 H 9 Area and Perimeter

SERIES TOPIC Mathletics Passport © 3P Learning
 What else can you do? Your Turn Area and Perimeter

Area challenge
Fill the grid below with as many different squares, triangles, rectangles, parallelograms, rhombi, kites
and trapeziums as you can which all have the same area of 8 units2.

1 unit
1 unit

Area and Perimeter H 9 33

Mathletics Passport © 3P Learning SERIES TOPIC
 What else can you do? Your Turn Area and Perimeter

Reflection Time

Reflecting on the work covered within this booklet:

• What useful skills have you gained by learning how to calculate the area and perimeter of plane shapes?

• Write about one or two ways you think you could apply area and perimeter calculations to a real
life situation.

• If you discovered or learnt about any shortcuts to help with calculating area and perimeter or some
other cool facts/conversions, jot them down here:

34 H 9 Area and Perimeter

SERIES TOPIC Mathletics Passport © 3P Learning
 Cheat Sheet Area and Perimeter

Here is what you need to remember from this topic on Area and perimeter

Area using unit squares

Area is just the amount of flat space a shape has inside its edges or boundaries.
A unit square is a square with each side exactly one unit of measurement long.
Count the total number of whole squares, or fractions of squares to calculate the area.

Area (A) = 2 units2

Perimeter using unit squares

The perimeter with unit squares means count the number of edges around the outside of the shape.

Perimeter (P) = 6 units

Area: Squares and rectangles

Just multiply the length of the perpendicular sides (length and width).
length length

width Square side (x) width Rectangle side (y)

side (x) side (x)

Area = length # width Area = length # width

= x2 units2 = xy units2

Area: Triangles
height

height height

base base base

` Area of the triangle = (half the base multiplied by the perpendicular height) units2
= 1 # b # h units2
2

Area: Parallelograms
Perpendicular
height (h)

Length (l)
` Area of a parallelogram = length # perpendicular height units2
= l # h units2

Area and Perimeter H 9 35

Mathletics Passport © 3P Learning SERIES TOPIC
 Cheat Sheet Area and Perimeter

Area of composite shapes

1 2 1 + 2

Area 1 + Area 2 = Composite Area = Area 1 + Area 2

(Rectangle) (Isosceles triangle) (Rectangle + Isosceles triangle)

Perimeter of simple shapes

Add together the lengths of every side which make the shape.
Start/finish Start/finish

width side 2 side 3

Square (y units) Rectangle (y units) Triangle (z units)

side (x units) length (x units) side 1 (x units) Start/finish

P = 4 # side length P = width + length + width + length P = side 1 + side 2 + side 3

= 4x units = 2x + 2y units = x + y + z units

Perimeter of composite shapes

The lengths of all unlabelled sides must be found in composite shapes before calculating their perimeter.
It is easier to add them together if the lengths are all in the same units.
? m (3 + 3.5) m = 6.5 m

2 m 2 m
7 m 3.5 m 7 m 3.5 m
? m (7 - 2) m = 5 m
Start/finish
3 m 3 m
` Perimeter = 7 m + 6.5 m + 2 m + 3.5 m + 5 m + 3 m
= 27 m

B
Rhombus, Kites and Trapeziums
A B a a
A C A B A B
perpendicular perpendicular
height (h) height (h)
D C C D C D
b b
D
Rhombus Kite Trapezium

Area = ^ AC # BDh ' 2 Area = (AC # BD) ' 2 Area = (a + b) # h ' 2

Perimeter = 4 # AB Perimeter = 2 # AB + 2 # AD Perimeter = AB + BD + CD + AC

36 H 9 Area and Perimeter

SERIES TOPIC Mathletics Passport © 3P Learning
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