Beginner · 10 min
Perimeter and area
Distinguish the boundary of a rectangle from its covered surface.
Walk around the edge
Perimeter is the total distance around a shape. A rectangle has two equal lengths and two equal widths.
Worked example
Length 6 cm, width 4 cm: perimeter = 2 × (6 + 4) = 20 cm
Cover the surface
Area measures how much surface a shape covers. Multiply a rectangle's length by its width and use square units.
Worked example
Length 6 cm, width 4 cm: area = 6 × 4 = 24 cm²
Try it on paper
- Write down each step before entering your answer.
- Use the explanation to check your method, then try the next question.