What is it
Area measures the amount of space inside a 2D shape, while perimeter measures the total distance around its edge — both calculated using specific formulae for rectangles, triangles and other shapes.
Why it matters
Area and perimeter are among the most practical maths skills a person ever uses — from working out how much carpet a room needs to how much fencing a garden requires — and they form the base for GCSE topics like circles and compound shapes.
Exam tip
A simple way to avoid mixing the two up: perimeter has a single dimension (a length, measured in cm or m), while area always has two dimensions multiplied together (measured in cm² or m²).
Related topics
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