Revision notes for Edexcel IGCSE Maths Area and Perimeter. Open the guide for explanations and worked examples. Written against the Edexcel IGCSE Maths (4MA1) specification, so the content matches what's examinable rather than general Maths background.
Area and Perimeter
What you'll learn
How to tell the difference between area and perimeter.
How to find areas of rectangles, squares, triangles, parallelograms and trapezia.
How to work backwards to find missing lengths or draw a shape on a grid.
How to find the perimeter of a shape made from rectangles.
Area and perimeter: the big difference
Area and perimeter are both measurements of a shape, but they measure different things.
Definition
Area and perimeter
Area is the amount of flat space inside a 2D shape. It is measured in square units, such as cm² or m².
Perimeter is the total distance around the outside edge of a 2D shape. It is measured in length units, such as cm or m.
If a shape is drawn on a centimetre grid, each small square has area 1 cm². You can sometimes count squares, but formulas are quicker and more reliable.
Example
Rectangle on a centimetre grid
A rectangle is 6 cm long and 3 cm wide. Find its area and perimeter.
A slanted four-sided shape has two pairs of parallel opposite sides. Its base is 6 cm and its perpendicular height is 4 cm. Name the shape and find its area.
A four-sided shape with two pairs of parallel opposite sides is a parallelogram.
This simplifies to 25=h225 = h^225=h2, so the height is 5 cm.
The base is twice the height, so the base is 10 cm.
Perimeter of compound shapes
A compound shape is made by joining simpler shapes together.
For perimeter, you only count the outside boundary. Any joined edge inside the shape is not part of the perimeter.
Example
Perimeter of a six-sided shape
Two identical rectangles, each 6 cm by 3 cm, are joined to make a step-shaped six-sided shape. The outside edges are 6 cm, 6 cm, 3 cm, 3 cm, 3 cm and 9 cm. Find the perimeter.
In a compound perimeter question, trace around the outside with your finger or pencil. Tick each side as you add it so you do not miss or double-count a side.
Trapeziums
A trapezium is a four-sided shape with one pair of parallel sides.
For area, you need the two parallel side lengths and the perpendicular height.
Key Idea
Trapezium area formula
The area of a trapezium is:
A=12(a+b)hA = \frac{1}{2}(a+b)hA=21(a+b)h
Here, aaa and bbb are the parallel sides, and hhh is the perpendicular height.
A good way to remember it is: add the parallel sides, halve the result, then multiply by the height.
Example
Area of a trapezium
A garden is shaped like a trapezium. The parallel sides are 6 m and 12 m, and the perpendicular height is 5 m. Find the area.
Add the two parallel sides.
6+12=186 + 12 = 186+12=18
Halve the total.
18÷2=918 \div 2 = 918÷2=9
Multiply by the perpendicular height.
9×5=45 m29 \times 5 = 45\text{ m}^29×5=45 m2
Example
Finding the height of a trapezium
A trapezium has area 42 cm². Its parallel sides are 4 cm and 8 cm. Find the perpendicular height.
Start with the trapezium area formula.
A=12(a+b)hA = \frac{1}{2}(a+b)hA=21(a+b)h
Substitute the known values.
42=12(4+8)h42 = \frac{1}{2}(4+8)h42=21(4+8)h
Add the parallel sides.
42=12×12h42 = \frac{1}{2} \times 12h42=21×12h
Half of 12 is 6.
42=6h42 = 6h42=6h
Divide by 6.
h=7h = 7h=7
Common Mistake
Forgetting to add both parallel sides
In a trapezium, do not just multiply one base by the height. Add the two parallel sides first, then halve.
Exam technique
In the exam
Decide first: are you finding area or perimeter? This tells you whether to multiply for space inside or add around the outside.
Label the formula before substituting numbers, especially for triangles, parallelograms and trapeziums.
Check your units at the end: cm² or m² for area, cm or m for perimeter.
Self review
Check yourself
Can you explain why the area of a triangle is half of base times height?
If a square has perimeter 40 cm, what would you do first to find its area?
In a compound shape, how can you tell which sides should not be counted in the perimeter?
Recap questions
Test yourself with 5 quick questions on this guide. Answer them all correctly to complete it.
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