THE AREA OF A
SHAPE
AREA OF A SHAPE
The area of a shape is the amount of flat space
that the shape occupies.
The area of a shape is measured using squares
and finding the number that will fit inside the
shape.
If the shape is made up of full or half squares it is
easy to count the squares and find the area.
1/
1
2
6
2
1/
1/
2
2
Area = 71/2 sq.
3
4
5
If the shape isn’t made of full or half squares you
may have to put part squares together to make
whole squares.
•Count the full squares.
•Put half squares together (if possible).
•Put other parts together to make full squares.
•You must have accounted for all of the space
inside the shape.
Area = 7 ½ squares
1
2
5
3
4
6
7
How much area does the rest make up?
AREA OF A RECTANGLE
width
length
Area = length
x width
Remember: The area of a shape is measured in
units squared, cm2 or m2.
1.
Area
5 cm
9 cm
2.
11 cm
4 cm
= l x w
= 9 x 5
= 45 cm2
THE AREA OF A TRIANGLE
Note: The area of each triangle is half that of the
rectangle.
Area = ½ x base x height
base
Note: The height of a triangle is the perpendicular
distance from the base to the highest point.
THE AREA OF A TRIANGLE
Area = ½ x base x height
1.
base
Area
6 cm
=½x7x6
= ½ x 42
= 21 cm2
7 cm
2.
15 cm Area
10 cm
= ½ x 10 x 15
= ½ x 150
= 75 cm2