Grade 6 · Math · Lesson 20

Area and Perimeter Review

Area is the amount of flat space INSIDE a shape, measured in square units (sq in, sq ft, sq yd, cm^2, m^2). Perimeter is the total distance AROUND the outside of the shape, measured in regular length units (in, ft, yd, cm, m). Area answers "how much carpet covers the floor?" while perimeter answers "how much fence wraps the yard?" — two very different questions, two very different formulas. The formulas are the same whether your measurements are in US customary or metric units; only the labels change.

What this lesson teaches

1Compute the area and perimeter of rectangles and squares with US customary (in, ft, yd) and metric (cm, m) units
2Apply the triangle area formula A = (1/2) x b x h using base and perpendicular height in either system
3Compute the area of a parallelogram using A = b x h with customary or metric units
4Distinguish area (square units like sq in or cm^2) from perimeter (length units like ft or m)

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