Cambridge O Level Mathematics (Syllabus D) · Syllabus 4024 · Mensuration
Area and Perimeter
What is Area and Perimeter?
Perimeter is the total length of the boundary enclosing a two-dimensional shape and is measured in linear units; area is the amount of surface the shape encloses and is measured in squared units. A rectangle of length l and width w has perimeter 2(l + w) and area lw, a triangle has area half the base times the perpendicular height, a parallelogram has area base times perpendicular height, and a trapezium with parallel sides a and b separated by perpendicular distance h has area half of a plus b, times h. Each area formula requires a perpendicular height rather than a sloping side. The area of a compound shape is found by splitting it into non-overlapping known regions and adding, or by enclosing it in a complete shape and subtracting the missing part, while its perimeter is traced around the outside boundary only.
This definition is part of the Mensuration chapter in Cambridge O Level Mathematics (Syllabus D).