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

Suggested Topics to Practice in Advance

  1. Area
  2. The sides or edges of a triangle
  3. Triangle Height
  4. The Sum of the Interior Angles of a Triangle
  5. Exterior angles of a triangle
  6. Types of Triangles
  7. Obtuse Triangle
  8. Equilateral triangle
  9. Identification of an Isosceles Triangle
  10. Scalene triangle
  11. Acute triangle
  12. Isosceles triangle
  13. The Area of a Triangle
  14. Area of a right triangle
  15. Area of Isosceles Triangles
  16. Area of a Scalene Triangle
  17. Area of Equilateral Triangles
  18. Areas of Polygons for 7th Grade
  19. Right Triangle
  20. Median in a triangle
  21. Center of a Triangle - The Centroid - The Intersection Point of Medians
  22. How do we calculate the area of complex shapes?
  23. How to calculate the area of a triangle using trigonometry?
  24. All terms in triangle calculation

Practice Perimeter of a Triangle

Examples with solutions for Perimeter of a Triangle

Exercise #1

Look at the rectangle below.

Side AB is 2 cm long and side BC has a length of 7 cm.

What is the perimeter of the rectangle?
222777AAABBBCCCDDD

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Given that in a rectangle every pair of opposite sides are equal to each other, we can state that:

AB=CD=2 AB=CD=2

AD=BC=7 AD=BC=7

Now we can add all the sides together and find the perimeter:

2+7+2+7=4+14=18 2+7+2+7=4+14=18

Answer

18 cm

Exercise #2

Look at the rectangle below.

Side AB is 4.8 cm long and side AD has a length of 12 cm.

What is the perimeter of the rectangle?
4.84.84.8121212AAABBBCCCDDD

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

In the drawing, we have a rectangle, although it is not placed in its standard form and is slightly rotated,
but this does not affect that it is a rectangle, and it still has all the properties of a rectangle.
 
The perimeter of a rectangle is the sum of all its sides, that is, to find the perimeter of the rectangle we will have to add the lengths of all the sides.
We also know that in a rectangle the opposite sides are equal.
Therefore, we can use the existing sides to complete the missing lengths.
 
4.8+4.8+12+12 =
33.6 cm

Answer

33.6 cm

Exercise #3

Look at the rectangle below.

Side DC has a length of 1.5 cm and side AD has a length of 9.5 cm.

What is the perimeter of the rectangle?

1.51.51.5AAABBBCCCDDD9.5

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Since in a rectangle every pair of opposite sides are equal to each other, we can state that:

AD=BC=9.5 AD=BC=9.5

AB=CD=1.5 AB=CD=1.5

Now we can add all the sides together and find the perimeter:

1.5+9.5+1.5+9.5=19+3=22 1.5+9.5+1.5+9.5=19+3=22

Answer

22 cm

Exercise #4

Look at the triangle below:

666888101010

What is the perimeter of the triangle?

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

The perimeter of the triangle is equal to the sum of all sides together, therefore:

6+8+10=14+10=24 6+8+10=14+10=24

Answer

24

Exercise #5

Given the triangle:

777111111131313

What is its perimeter?

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

The perimeter of a triangle is equal to the sum of all its sides together:

11+7+13=11+20=31 11+7+13=11+20=31

Answer

31

Exercise #6

Look at the trapezoid in the diagram.

101010777121212777

What is its perimeter?

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

In order to calculate the perimeter of the trapezoid we must add together the measurements of all of its sides:

7+10+7+12 =

36

And that's the solution!

Answer

36

Exercise #7

Given the trapezoid:

444999666131313

What is its perimeter?

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

The problem requires calculating the perimeter of the trapezoid by summing the lengths of its sides. Based on the given trapezoid diagram, the side lengths are clearly marked as follows:

  • First side: 4 4
  • Second side: 9 9
  • Third side: 6 6
  • Fourth side: 13 13

According to the formula for the perimeter of a trapezoid:

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

Substituting the respective values:

P=4+9+6+13 P = 4 + 9 + 6 + 13

Calculating the sum, we find:

P=32 P = 32

Thus, the perimeter of the trapezoid is 32 32 .

Answer

32

Exercise #8

What is the perimeter of the trapezoid in the figure?

444555999666

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To find the perimeter we will add all the sides:

4+5+9+6=9+9+6=18+6=24 4+5+9+6=9+9+6=18+6=24

Answer

24

Exercise #9

What is the perimeter of the trapezoid in the figure?

7.57.57.54441.51.51.5333

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To find the perimeter of the trapezoid, we will sum the lengths of all its sides. The given side lengths are:

  • Base 1: 7.5 7.5
  • Base 2: 1.5 1.5
  • Leg 1: 3 3
  • Leg 2: 4 4

Using the formula for the perimeter P P of the trapezoid, we have:

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

Substituting in the given values:

P=7.5+1.5+3+4 P = 7.5 + 1.5 + 3 + 4

Performing the addition:

P=7.5+1.5=9 P = 7.5 + 1.5 = 9

P=9+3=12 P = 9 + 3 = 12

P=12+4=16 P = 12 + 4 = 16

Therefore, the perimeter of the trapezoid is 16 16 .

Answer

16

Exercise #10

Look at the trapezoid in the figure.

Calculate its perimeter.

2.52.52.510.410.410.45.35.35.3666

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

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

  • Step 1: Identify all given side lengths of the trapezoid.
  • Step 2: Apply the formula for the perimeter of the trapezoid.
  • Step 3: Sum up the lengths to find the perimeter.

Now, let's work through each step:
Step 1: The problem gives us the lengths of the trapezoid's sides:
- AB=2.5 AB = 2.5
- BC=10.4 BC = 10.4
- CD=5.3 CD = 5.3
- DA=6 DA = 6

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

P=AB+BC+CD+DA P = AB + BC + CD + DA

Step 3: Plugging in the given values, we calculate:

P=2.5+10.4+5.3+6 P = 2.5 + 10.4 + 5.3 + 6

Calculating further, we have:

P=24.2 P = 24.2

Therefore, the perimeter of the trapezoid is 24.2 24.2 .

Answer

24.2

Exercise #11

AB = 5

CD = 7

AC = 4

BD = 4

Calculate the perimeter of the rectangle.

555444777444AAABBBDDDCCC

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

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

  • Step 1: Identify the given measurements for the sides.

  • Step 2: Use the perimeter formula for a trapezoid, which is summing all sides.

  • Step 3: Add the values to get the perimeter.

Now, let's work through each step:

Step 1: The problem gives us four sides to consider. These sides are: AB=5 AB = 5 , CD=7 CD = 7 , AC=4 AC = 4 , and BD=4 BD = 4 .

Step 2: The perimeter of a trapezoid or any quadrilateral is simply the sum of all four sides. Hence, we need to add AB AB , CD CD , AC AC , and BD BD .

Step 3: Adding the values, we calculate the perimeter:AB+CD+AC+BD=5+7+4+4=20 AB + CD + AC + BD = 5 + 7 + 4 + 4 = 20 .

Therefore, the perimeter of the given shape is 20 20 .

Answer

20

Exercise #12

AB = 10.5

CD = 13

AC = 7.5

BD = 7.5

Calculate the perimeter of the rectangle ABCD.

10.510.510.57.57.57.51313137.57.57.5AAABBBDDDCCC

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

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

  • Step 1: Gather the given side lengths of quadrilateral ABCD.

  • Step 2: Since it's necessary to understand summation, add all lengths.

  • Step 3: Conclude from sum.

Now, let's work through each step:

Step 1: The problem provides:
ABamp;=10.5,CDamp;=13,ACamp;=7.5,BDamp;=7.5. \begin{aligned} AB &= 10.5, \\ CD &= 13, \\ AC &= 7.5, \\ BD &= 7.5. \end{aligned}

Step 2: Add them together:
Perimeteramp;=AB+CD+AC+BDamp;=10.5+13+7.5+7.5. \begin{aligned} \text{Perimeter} &= AB + CD + AC + BD \\ &= 10.5 + 13 + 7.5 + 7.5. \end{aligned}

Step 3: Calculate: Perimeteramp;=10.5+13+7.5+7.5=38.5. \begin{aligned} \text{Perimeter} &= 10.5 + 13 + 7.5 + 7.5 = 38.5. \end{aligned}

Therefore, the solution is that the perimeter of quadrilateral ABCD is 38.5 38.5 .

Answer

38.5

Exercise #13

666444AAABBBDDDCCC

Calculate the perimeter of the given parallelogram:

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

As is true for a parallelogram every pair of opposite sides are equal:

AB=CD=6,AC=BD=4 AB=CD=6,AC=BD=4

The perimeter of the parallelogram is equal to the sum of all sides together:

4+4+6+6=8+12=20 4+4+6+6=8+12=20

Answer

20

Exercise #14

Given the parallelogram:

888333AAABBBDDDCCC

Calculate the perimeter of the parallelogram.

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, let's follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Identify the lengths of the adjacent sides of the parallelogram.
  • Step 2: Use the formula for the perimeter of a parallelogram, P=2(a+b) P = 2(a + b) .
  • Step 3: Plug in the known values and calculate the perimeter.

Now, let's work through each step:

Step 1: From the diagram, we have two adjacent sides of the parallelogram: a=8 a = 8 units and b=3 b = 3 units.

Step 2: The formula for the perimeter of a parallelogram is given by P=2(a+b) P = 2(a + b) .

Step 3: Substitute the values for a a and b b into the formula:

P=2(8+3)=2×11=22 P = 2(8 + 3) = 2 \times 11 = 22 .

Therefore, the perimeter of the parallelogram is 22 22 .

Answer

22

Exercise #15

Given the parallelogram:

555444AAABBBDDDCCC

Calculate the perimeter of the parallelogram.

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the problem of calculating the perimeter of the parallelogram, follow these steps:

  • Identify the given side lengths: AB=5 AB = 5 and AC=4 AC = 4 .
  • Acknowledge that in a parallelogram, opposite sides are equal, so AB=CD=5 AB = CD = 5 and AC=BD=4 AC = BD = 4 .
  • Apply the perimeter formula for a parallelogram: P=2×(Base+Side) P = 2 \times ( \text{Base} + \text{Side} ) .

Plug the known side lengths into the formula:
P=2×(AB+AC)=2×(5+4)=2×9=18 P = 2 \times (AB + AC) = 2 \times (5 + 4) = 2 \times 9 = 18

Thus, the perimeter of the parallelogram is 18 18 .

Answer

18

Topics learned in later sections

  1. Perimeter
  2. Triangle
  3. Perimeter of a triangle