How do we calculate the perimeter of polygons?

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How do we calculate the perimeter of polygons?

As long as we are dealing with a shape characterized by straight lines, the perimeter calculation will be performed by adding together all of the side lengths. This is a simple arithmetic operation that does not require any special skills. For example:

The perimeter of a shape with sides of 5, 9, 4, 6 and 7, will be 31. All you need to do is simply add up all of the sides.

Why can such a question be challenging? Owing to the fact that in tests, they don't want to examine you on arithmetic operations like addition, but rather on your proficiency in the properties of specific shapes. Therefore, you need to know the properties of polygons as they are.

Educational chart comparing perimeter formulas of polygons—triangle, rectangle, square, parallelogram, and rhombus—with labeled orange shapes and corresponding perimeter equations

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Test yourself on perimeter of a triangle!

Calculate the perimeter of the following parallelogram:

101010888

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Geometry problems require you to answer various questions:

  • What is the perimeter of a shape.
  • Calculating the area of a shape.
  • Finding the length of a side and more...

How do we calculate the perimeter of polygons?

As long as we are dealing with a shape characterized by straight lines, the perimeter calculation will be performed by adding together all of the side lengths. This is a simple arithmetic operation that does not require any special skills. For example:

The perimeter of a shape with sides of 5, 9, 4, 6 and 7, will be 31. All you need to do is add up all the sides.

Why can such a question be challenging? Owing to the fact that in tests, they don't want to examine you on arithmetic operations like addition, but rather on your proficiency in the properties of specific shapes. Therefore, you need to know the properties of polygons as they are.

Example: Calculating the perimeter of a parallelogram

For example, you may encounter a question as seen below.

Given a parallelogram with sides of 5 and 6, determine the perimeter of the parallelogram.

In order to correctly answer this question, you need to know the properties of a parallelogram. We know that parallel sides in a parallelogram are equal, thus you can conclude that the length of the other sides are 5 and 8. Therefore, the perimeter of the parallelogram in this case will be 26 (5 + 8 + 5 + 8).

Additional examples:

Question: Given an isosceles triangle with a perimeter of 48. Leg a = 12. Determine the value of the base?
Answer: Given that this is an isosceles triangle, leg b is also equal to 12. Therefore, the base equals 24. (12+12 = 24)

Question: Given an isosceles triangle with a base of 26. The length of side a is 8. What is the perimeter of the triangle?
Answer: Since the triangle is isosceles, side b is also equal to 8. Therefore, the perimeter is 8 + 8 + 26 = 42.

Question: Given an equilateral triangle with side a equal to 9. What is the perimeter of the triangle?
Answer: Since the triangle is equilateral, all sides are equal. Therefore, the perimeter of the triangle is 27.

Question: Given a rectangle with adjacent sides of length 7 and 9. Determine the perimeter of the rectangle?
Answer: Since in a rectangle opposite sides are equal, we can conclude that the other sides are equal to 7 and 9. Therefore, the perimeter of the rectangle is 32.

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Examples with solutions for Perimeter of a Triangle

Exercise #1

Calculate the perimeter of the parallelogram ABCD, given that CD is parallel to AB.

777121212AAABBBCCCDDD

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

First we need to remember that pairs of opposite sides in a parallelogram are parallel and equal.

Therefore, AB is parallel to CD and BC is parallel to AD.

From this we can conclude that AB = CD = 7.

Also: BC = AD = 12.

Finally we can calculate the perimeter by adding all the sides together:

7+7+12+12=14+24=38 7+7+12+12=14+24=38

Answer

38

Exercise #2

Find the perimeter of the triangle ABC

333444555AAABBBCCC

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To find the perimeter of triangle ABC \triangle ABC , we need to sum the lengths of its sides:

  • Side AB=3 AB = 3
  • Side BC=4 BC = 4
  • Side CA=5 CA = 5

Using the formula for the perimeter of a triangle:

Perimeter=AB+BC+CA \text{Perimeter} = AB + BC + CA

Substitute the known values:

Perimeter=3+4+5 \text{Perimeter} = 3 + 4 + 5

Perimeter=12 \text{Perimeter} = 12

Thus, the perimeter of triangle ABC \triangle ABC is 12\mathbf{12}.

From the multiple-choice options provided, the correct choice is option 1: 12.

Answer

12

Exercise #3

Calculate the perimeter of the trapezoid according to the following data:

777101010777121212AAABBBCCCDDD

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, we'll calculate the perimeter of the trapezoid by summing the lengths of all its sides. The steps are as follows:

  • List the lengths of the sides: the bases are 1010 and 1212, and the two non-parallel sides are each 77.
  • Apply the perimeter formula for a trapezoid: P=a+b+c+d P = a + b + c + d .
  • Substitute the given values into the formula: P=10+12+7+7 P = 10 + 12 + 7 + 7 .
  • Calculate the sum: P=10+12+7+7=36 P = 10 + 12 + 7 + 7 = 36 .

Therefore, the perimeter of the trapezoid is 36 36 .

This matches the correct answer choice from the provided options.

Answer

36

Exercise #4

Calculate the perimeter of the trapezoid below:

101010111111555101010

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, we'll calculate the perimeter of the trapezoid by summing the lengths of its sides:

  • Step 1: Identify the side lengths of the trapezoid:
    Top side =10 = 10 , Bottom side =5 = 5 , Left side =10 = 10 , Right side =11 = 11 .
  • Step 2: Apply the perimeter formula:
    The formula for the perimeter P P of a trapezoid is P=a+b+c+d P = a + b + c + d .
  • Step 3: Perform the calculations:
    Substitute the given lengths into the formula:
    P=10+5+10+11=36 P = 10 + 5 + 10 + 11 = 36 .

Therefore, the perimeter of the trapezoid is 36 36 .

Answer

36

Exercise #5

Calculate the perimeter of the trapezoid below:

161616161616111151515

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, we'll follow these steps:

  • Identify the given side lengths of the trapezoid.
  • Apply the formula for the perimeter of a trapezoid.
  • Perform the addition of all side lengths to calculate the perimeter.

Let's work through each step:

Step 1: Identify the given side lengths. The trapezoid has:

  • Top base: a=16 a = 16
  • Bottom base: b=1 b = 1
  • Non-parallel side: c=15 c = 15
  • Other non-parallel side: d=16 d = 16

Step 2: We'll use the formula for the perimeter of a trapezoid:

P=a+b+c+d P = a + b + c + d

Step 3: Plug in the values and perform the calculation:

P=16+1+15+16 P = 16 + 1 + 15 + 16

P=48 P = 48

Therefore, the perimeter of the trapezoid is 48 48 .

Answer

48

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