

An Introduction to the Area and Perimeter of Plane Figures
A question may arise in your mind when you see a plane “what is a plane figure”? A plane shape is a closed, two-dimensional, or flat figure. The characteristics of various plane shapes vary, such as the number of sides or corners (or vertices). We will require several parameters to determine a figure's area depending on its form.
Two plane figures must have the same shape and size in order to have the same area. You are also going to learn about the perimeter of plane figures and formulas for rectangles.
Perimeter of a Plane Figure
The entire distance surrounding a plane figure's boundaries is known as the perimeter of plane figures. The lengths of each side of the figure are added to determine the perimeter. We measure the perimeter using one-dimensional units like metres or centimetres since it is a length.
Due to the nature of the perimeter, it is possible for two figures that have different shapes to have the same perimeter depending on the dimensions of their sides. For example, it is possible to form a circle using a string and then use the same string to form a square. Depending on the figure's shape and the number of sides, the perimeter formula varies for various plane shapes.
Area of a Plane Figure
The region that a plane figure covers is referred to as the area of the plane figure. Area is a two-dimensional measurement, so we use square units like $\mathrm{m}^{2}$ or $\mathrm{cm}^{2}$ to measure it. The plane figure's shape affects the area formula.
Formulas for a Rectangle
A rectangle is defined as a four-sided $2 D$ figure with right angles. All interior angles in a rectangle measure $90^{\circ}$ and their opposite sides are parallel and equal.

A Rectangle
Area Formula $=a \times b$
Perimeter Formula $=2(a+b)$
where $a$ represents the width of the rectangle and $b$ represents its base.
Formulas of Area and Perimeter for a Square
A square is a figure in two dimensions with four equal sides. Since all of a square's inner angles are 90 degrees, it is a particular kind of rectangle.

A square
Area Formula $=l^{2}$
Perimeter Formula $=4l$
where $I$ stands for one of the square's sides' length.
Formulas of Area and Perimeter for a Triangle
The triangle is a 2D figure with three sides. The equilateral triangle, the isosceles triangle, and the scalene triangle are the three different forms of triangles based on the lengths of their sides. The formulas for calculating area and perimeter are the same for any type of triangle.

A Triangle
Area Formula $=\dfrac{1}{2} h a$
Perimeter Formula $=a+b+c$
where $a, b, c$ represent the lengths of the sides of the triangle, $h$ represents the height, and a represents the base of the triangle.
Formulas of Circumference and Area for a Circle
A fully round shape is what defines the circle as a 2D figure. The area and perimeter of a circle are determined by its radius.

A circle
Area Formula $=\pi r^{2}$
Perimeter Formula $=2 \pi r$
where $r$ represents the radius of the circle and $\pi$ is a mathematical constant that has a value of $3.1415 \ldots . .$
Now let us discuss some area of plane figures questions and answers.
Solved Examples
The following exercises are resolved using the area and perimeter formulae of various planar figures. There is a solution for each exercise where you can see the steps taken.
Example: 1 What is the area of a triangle that has a base of 9m and a height of 8m?
Ans: We know that the area of any triangle can be found by multiplying its base and height and dividing by two. So, we have:
$A=\dfrac{1}{2} b h$
$A=\dfrac{1}{2}(9)(8)$
$A=36$
So, the area of the triangle is $36 \mathrm{~m}^{2}$.
Example: 2 What is the area and perimeter of a square with sides that are 11m long?
Ans: By squaring the length of one of the sides, we can get the area. The perimeter is calculated by multiplying one of the side's length by four. So, we have:
Area of square$=l^{2}$
$A=(11)^{2}$
$A=121 \mathrm{~m}^{2}
$p=4l$
$p=4(11)$
$p=44 m$
So, the area of the square is $121 \mathrm{~m}^{2}$ and the perimeter is $44 \mathrm{~m}$.
Example: 3 A rectangle has sides of length 12m and 15m. What is its perimeter?
Ans: By summing the side lengths and multiplying by two, we can get the rectangle's perimeter:
$p=2(a+b)$
$p=2(12+15)$
$p=2(27)$
$p=54 m$
Practice Questions
1. A circle with a radius of 8m has what area and perimeter?
Ans: The circle's area is $201.1 \mathrm{~m}^{2}$, and its circumference is 50.3m.
2: What is the area of a triangle that has a height of 12m and a base of 11m?
Ans: $66 \mathrm{~m}^{2}$
Summary
The perimeter or boundary of an object is referred to as an object's form. A two-dimensional closed figure with no thickness is referred to as a plane shape. In geometry, a plane is a level surface that goes on forever in all directions. The region that an object's shape defines as its area. The plane area of a figure or any other two-dimensional geometric shape in a plane is how much space it occupies. All forms' areas vary depending on their dimensions and characteristics. There are several shapes with various areas. A kite's area is not the same as the size of the square.
The whole distance around a shape is referred to as its perimeter. In essence, the length of any shape when it is expanded in a linear form equals its perimeter. A shape's perimeter in a two-dimensional plane is its complete circumference. Depending on their measurements, distinct shapes' perimeters may be equal in length.
FAQs on Area of a Plane Figure
1. What is the area of a plane figure?
The area of a plane figure is the total amount of surface or region enclosed within its boundary. It is a two-dimensional measurement that tells us how much space the shape occupies on a flat surface, measured in square units like cm² or m².
2. What is the main difference between the area and perimeter of a shape?
The main difference lies in what they measure. Perimeter is the total length of the boundary or the distance around a two-dimensional shape. Area, on the other hand, is the total space inside that boundary. Perimeter is a one-dimensional length, while area is a two-dimensional space.
3. What are the formulas for the area of a square, rectangle, triangle, and circle?
The basic formulas for the area of common plane figures are:
- Square: Area = side × side (or s²)
- Rectangle: Area = length × width (or l × w)
- Triangle: Area = ½ × base × height
- Circle: Area = π × radius² (or πr²)
4. Why are the units for area 'square units' (like cm²) while for perimeter they are just 'units' (like cm)?
Units for area are 'square units' because area measures a two-dimensional space, considering both length and width. You are essentially counting how many 1x1 squares fit inside the shape. In contrast, perimeter is a one-dimensional length—the distance along a line—which is why it is measured in simple units like cm, m, or inches.
5. How is calculating the area of plane figures used in real life?
Calculating area is a practical skill used in many daily situations, for example:
- Finding out how much paint is needed to cover a wall.
- Determining the amount of carpet or tiles required for a room.
- Calculating the size of a piece of land or a garden to buy seeds or fertiliser.
- Designing layouts for rooms, parks, or buildings to use space efficiently.
6. How would you find the area of a complex or irregular plane figure?
To find the area of a complex or irregular figure, we use a method called decomposition. This involves breaking down the complex shape into several smaller, regular shapes like rectangles, squares, and triangles whose areas are easy to calculate. You then find the area of each small shape and add them together to get the total area of the complex figure.
7. Can two different shapes have the same area? Explain with an example.
Yes, two completely different shapes can have the same area. For example, a rectangle with a length of 8 cm and a width of 2 cm has an area of 16 cm² (8 cm × 2 cm). A square with a side of 4 cm also has an area of 16 cm² (4 cm × 4 cm). Even though their shapes and perimeters are different, they occupy the same amount of space.
8. If you double the side length of a square, does its area also double?
No, the area does not double; it becomes four times larger. The area of a square is calculated by the formula Area = side². If the original side is 's', the area is s². If you double the side to '2s', the new area will be (2s)² = 4s². So, doubling the side length quadruples the area, it does not just double it.





