Shapes Around Us

The shapes are all around us, from the circular pizza we eat to the rectangular plots we build on. Understanding how to calculate the various measurements of shapes helps us to make sense of the world around us. Whether it is painting walls, planning parties, or constructing houses, we use shapes almost everywhere. Construction, architecture, painting, designing, and planning are some of the primary domains where we use these geometric shapes to our advantage. Let’s learn more about the area and perimeter of various shapes and how to apply them in real life.

Table of Content

• Types of Shapes
• Application of Shapes
• Area of a Shape
• Perimeter of Shapes
• Volume of Shapes
• Sample Problems
• Frequently Asked Questions

 

Types of Shapes

Geometrical shapes are broadly classified into two major categories—2D and 3D shapes. We use geometry concepts to work with various 2D as well as 3D shapes like triangles, circles, squares, cubes, cones, etc. The properties of all these geometrical shapes are based on the basic geometrical concepts of line, point, angles, and planes. 

2-D Shapes

3D Shapes

 

Applications of Shapes

Shapes have many applications in real life. The foundation of a house is usually rectangular in shape; by finding the perimeter of the foundation, we can calculate the cost of raising a proper foundation for the house. By finding the area of a rectangular plot, we can estimate the floor area and cost of material used for construction. Gardening is another such example where area and perimeter will help us plant flowerpots all across the perimeter of a garden. Knowing the perimeter & area of a square lawn will help to plant flowerpots all across the perimeter of the lawn and understand the quantity of seeds required to cover the whole lawn. To understand more about the topic and its application, download the area and perimeter of shapes worksheets.

Area of a Shape

The area of a shape is the space enclosed within its boundary. It tells us how much space is occupied by any shape and is usually calculated in square units like square centimetres or square metres. We can use formulas to measure the area of rectangular boxes, square playgrounds, circular pools, and so many other objects using the different formulas of area. 

For example, to calculate the area of a rectangular plot, we use the formula Area = Length X Breadth.

Perimeter of Shapes

The perimeter of a shape is the total length of the boundary of a shape. In other words, it is the distance covered along the border of a closed shape. To calculate the perimeter of a shape, we have to add the length of each side. It is measured in linear units like centimetres, meters, or inches. The perimeter of a curved shape like a circle is called a circumference. The formula to calculate the perimeter of a rectangle is Perimeter = 2(Length + Breadth).

Volume of Shapes

The volume of a 3D shape is the amount of space it occupies and is measured in cubic units. Various mathematical formulas are used to find the storage capacity of cylindrical tanks, packaging cost for cubical boxes, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions on Shapes

1. Name the different types of shapes in geometry.

Answer: Two-dimensional shapes are square, rectangle, triangle, circle, and parallelogram. Three-dimensional shapes are cylinders, cones, cubes, and cuboids.

2. What are 3-dimensional shapes?

Answer: In geometry, a 3-dimensional shape is a solid shape that has three dimensions: length, width, and height. We generally write it as 3D shapes. For example, cylinders, spheres, cuboids, etc. 

3. What is the difference between 2D and 3D shapes?

Answer: 2D shapes are flat and only have height and width, while 3D shapes have depth and occupy physical space.