Perimeter and Area Basics
Grade 2 · Math · Study Guide
Learn how to measure the distance around a shape (perimeter) and the space inside it (area).
Perimeter is the distance all the way around a shape. To find the perimeter, add up all the side lengths. If a rectangle has sides of 5 cm, 3 cm, 5 cm, and 3 cm, the perimeter is 5 + 3 + 5 + 3 = 16 cm. Think of perimeter as the fence around a backyard — it goes around the outside.
Area is the amount of space inside a shape. For a rectangle, we count the square units that fit inside it, or we can multiply the length by the width. A rectangle that is 4 units wide and 3 units tall has an area of 4 × 3 = 12 square units. Think of area as the carpet you need to cover a floor — it fills the inside.
A key difference: perimeter is measured in regular units (cm, inches) while area is measured in square units (cm², square inches). Both measurements are useful — a farmer needs to know the perimeter to fence a field and the area to know how much seed to plant!
| Concept | What it measures | How to find it | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perimeter | Distance around the shape | Add all side lengths | cm, inches, feet |
| Area | Space inside the shape | Count square units or length × width | square cm, sq. inches |
Key terms
- Perimeter
- The total distance around the outside of a shape
- Area
- The amount of space inside a shape, measured in square units
- Square unit
- A unit of area; one square that is 1 unit on each side
- Length
- How long a side of a shape is
- Width
- How wide a shape is (the shorter side of a rectangle)
Flashcards
- Perimeter
- The distance around the outside of a shape — add all sides
- Area
- The space inside a shape — measured in square units
- How to find perimeter of a rectangle
- Add all four sides: length + width + length + width
- How to find area of a rectangle
- Multiply length × width
- Units for perimeter
- Regular units: cm, inches, feet
- Units for area
- Square units: sq cm, sq inches, sq feet
Practice questions
A square has sides of 4 cm each. What is its perimeter?
- 8 cm
- 12 cm
- 16 cm
- 4 cm
Show answer
Answer: 16 cm
4 sides × 4 cm each = 16 cm perimeter.
Perimeter is measured in square units.
Show answer
Answer: False
Perimeter is measured in regular units (cm, inches); area is measured in square units.
A rectangle is 5 units long and 2 units wide. Its area is ___ square units.
Show answer
Answer: 10
Area = 5 × 2 = 10 square units.
A rectangle has sides of 6 cm and 3 cm. What is the perimeter?
- 9 cm
- 18 cm
- 15 cm
- 12 cm
Show answer
Answer: 18 cm
6 + 3 + 6 + 3 = 18 cm.
Area tells us how much space is inside a shape.
Show answer
Answer: True
Area measures the space contained inside a 2D shape.
Fun facts
- If you walked all the way around a football field, you would be measuring its perimeter — about 400 meters!
- Carpet stores use area to figure out how much carpet you need for a room.
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