Understanding and Calculating Perimeter and Area of Rectangles: Formulas, Examples, and Applications

Rectangle

A rectangle is a four-sided polygon with opposite sides that are parallel and equal in length

A rectangle is a four-sided polygon with opposite sides that are parallel and equal in length. It has four right angles, meaning each angle measures 90 degrees. The opposite sides of a rectangle are congruent, meaning they have the same length.

When it comes to finding the measurements of a rectangle, there are a few key terms that are often used:

1. Length (l): This refers to the longer dimension of the rectangle, measured from one end to the other.

2. Width (w): This refers to the shorter dimension of the rectangle, measured from one side to the other.

3. Perimeter (P): The perimeter of a rectangle is the total distance around the outside of the shape. To find the perimeter, you add up all four sides. The formula for the perimeter of a rectangle is P = 2l + 2w.

4. Area (A): The area of a rectangle is the amount of space inside the shape. To find the area, you multiply the length by the width. The formula for the area of a rectangle is A = l * w.

Let’s go through a couple of examples to see how these formulas are applied:

Example 1:
Given a rectangle with a length of 10 units and a width of 5 units, we can find the perimeter and area.

Perimeter = 2l + 2w
P = 2(10) + 2(5)
P = 20 + 10
P = 30 units

Area = l * w
A = 10 * 5
A = 50 square units

So, for this rectangle, the perimeter is 30 units and the area is 50 square units.

Example 2:
Suppose we have a rectangle with a perimeter of 24 units. We are given that the length is 8 units. We can find the width and area.

Perimeter = 2l + 2w
24 = 2(8) + 2w
24 = 16 + 2w
2w = 24 – 16
2w = 8
w = 8/2
w = 4 units

Now that we know the width is 4 units, we can find the area.

Area = l * w
A = 8 * 4
A = 32 square units

In this case, the width of the rectangle is 4 units and the area is 32 square units.

Remember, formulas and measurements for rectangles apply to any rectangle, regardless of size or orientation.

More Answers:

Understanding the Side Ratio of a 30-60-90 Triangle: Explained with Examples
Exploring the Pythagorean Theorem with a 3-4-5 Triangle: Properties and Applications
A Complete Guide to the Characteristics, Area, and Perimeter of Rhombuses

Error 403 The request cannot be completed because you have exceeded your quota. : quotaExceeded

Share:

Recent Posts

Mathematics in Cancer Treatment

How Mathematics is Transforming Cancer Treatment Mathematics plays an increasingly vital role in the fight against cancer mesothelioma. From optimizing drug delivery systems to personalizing

Read More »