Area and perimeter: word problems

Key Notes :

Area Word Problems:

  1. Identifying Shapes: Recognize the shape described in the problem (e.g., rectangle, square, irregular shape).

Calculating Area:

  • Rectangles and Squares: Use the formula Area=length×width.
  • Irregular Shapes: Break down the shape into simpler rectangles or squares, calculate their areas, and then sum them up.

Perimeter Word Problems:

  1. Identifying Shapes: Understand the shape described (e.g., rectangle, square, closed irregular figure).

Calculating Perimeter:

  • Rectangles and Squares: Use the formula Perimeter=2×(length+width)
  • Irregular Shapes: Add the lengths of all sides of the shape.

Problem-Solving Strategies:

  1. Read Carefully: Understand the problem statement and identify what information is provided and what is needed.
  2. Draw Diagrams: Sketch the shape described in the problem, especially when dealing with irregular shapes.
  3. Label: Label dimensions clearly on the diagram to avoid confusion.
  4. Compute Correctly: Use the appropriate formulas for area and perimeter based on the given shape.
  5. Check Units: Always check that the units in the final answer are appropriate and consistent with the problem context.

Learn with an example

▶️ A square market has a perimeter of 28 metres. How long is each side of the market?

​___ metres

A square has 4 equal sides.

Divide the perimeter by 4 to find the length of each side:

28 ÷ 4 = 7

Each side is 7 metres long.

▶️ A square plastic tarp has a perimeter of 60 metres. How long is each side?

​ ______ metres

A square has 4 equal sides.

Divide the perimeter by 4 to find the length of each side:

60 ÷ 4 = 15

Each side is 15 metres long.

▶️ A rectangular vegetable patch is 3 metres wide and 5 metres long. What is its area?

​ ______ square metres

Multiply the length times the width:

3 × 5 = 15

The area is 15 square metres.

Let’s practice!🖊️