How to calculate the perimeter of any shape?There are different rules for calculating the parameter of different geometrical shapes. Our perimeter calculator supports a lot of the basic shapes and below you can read details about each one, including its perimeter calculation formula. When doing the calculation, remember to take each measurement in the same unit, or to convert it to the same unit, to get valid results.
Perimeter of a squareThe formula for the perimeter of a square is side x 4, as seen in the figure below:This is the easiest shape to calculate, as you only need to take a single measurement. You barely even need a calculator for that.
It is, however, also rarely encountered in practical questions. Perimeter of a rectangleThe formula for the perimeter of a rectangle is width x length, as seen in the figure below:You need two measurements for a rectangle - width and length. Make sure both are in the same unit, or convert one of them as necessary. Due to the simplicity of the shape, measurements are easy to take and a perimeter calculator simplifies the calculation only when the numbers are big. Perimeter of a triangleThe formula for the perimeter of a triangle is side a + side b + side c, but there are many rules through wihch one can calculate it. Visual in the figure below:Our perimeter calculator also supports the following rules: SAS (side, angle, side), SSA (side, side, angle), ASA (angle, side, angle) and the hypothenuse and side rule for right-angled triangles. Circumference of a circleThe formula for the circumference of a circle is 2 x π x radius, but the diameter of the circle is d = 2 x r, so another way to write it is 2 x π x (diameter / 2).
Visual on the figure below:In many practical situations it is easier to measure the diameter accurately, rather than the radius. Also, in many engineering schematics it is the circle diameter which is given by default, not the radius. Perimeter of a parallelogramThe formula for the perimeter of a parallelogram is (width + height) x 2, as seen in the figure below:A parallelogram's perimeter is calculated using the same formula as a rectangle, since in both shapes the opposite sides are equal in length. Perimeter of a trapezoidThe formula for the perimeter of a trapezoid is base 1 + base 2 + side a + side b, as seen in the figure below:You need more measurements for a trapezoid, as it is a more complex form in which all sides can have a different length. Circumference of an ellipse (oval)There is no single formula for the circumference of an ellipse, as it is surprisingly difficult to calculate it accurately. We use an exact way of cumputing it that results in an exact calculation after an infinite number of calculations.
If the number of caclulations is less than infinite, there is a small error. It converges quickly to the true value, so we do several steps only.First, the perimeter calculator calculates h = (major radius - minor radius) 2 / (major radius + minor radius) 2. Then the calculator computes the perimeter as equal to π x (major radius + minor radius) x (1 + h. 0.25 + h 2. (1/64) + h 3.
(1/256) + h 4. (25/16384) + h 5.
(49/65536) + h 6. (4). Visual on the figure below:Perimeter of a sectorThe formula for the perimeter of a sector is 2 x radius + radius x angle x (π / 360). Visual on the figure below:A sector is just a part of a circle, so the formula is similar. The added complexity comes from the need to calculate how much of a circle a sector accounts for. However, this is easily handled by any decent perimeter calculator. Where is a perimeter calculator useful?Besides the obvious - tasks in mathematics class or homework, a perimeter calculator can have many practical applications.
Jump to perimeter of a square - To find the perimeter of a square, just add up all the lengths of the sides: Perimeter = x+x+x+x = 4x. Perimeter of a Square Integers - Type 1. Introduce 2nd grade and 3rd grade children to the concept of finding the perimeter of a square using the formula P = 4a, where 'a' represents the side of the square. Included are integers ≤ 20 in Level 1, while Level 2 offers integers ≥10. Two levels of difficulty with 5 worksheets each. Download the set.
For example, in sports - you may decide that you need to walk or run 10km per day to stay in good physical shape. However, what to do if there are no good tracks near you? You can simply choose a large building or any rectangular street block or set of blocks, calculate their perimeter and then divide 10km by it to determine how many laps you need to make.A perimeter calculator can also be useful in a variety of DIY projects at home or in the garden, including in things like home decoration, needlework, and so on. Working in engineering and some crafts often ends up requiring some perimeter calculations.