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5-1 Study Guide and Intervention

Perimeter and Area
Perimeter Formulas are equations that show relationships among certain quantities.
They usually contain two or more variables. You can use formulas to find the perimeter
of a figure. Perimeter is the distance around a geometric figure.

Perimeter of a rectangle Perimeter of a triangle



a b
w w

 c
Words The perimeter of a rectangle is Words The perimeter of a triangle is the
the sum of twice the length and twice sum of the measure of all three sides.
the width.
Symbols P = a + b + c
Symbols P = ℓ + ℓ + w + w
P = 2ℓ + 2w or 2(ℓ + w)

Example 1 Find the perimeter of the triangle.

P=a+b+c Write the formula for perimeter.

P=7+6+2 Replace a with 7, b with 6, and c with 2. 7 cm 6 cm

P = 15 cm Simplify. The perimeter is 15 cm.

Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

2 cm

Example 2 The perimeter of a rectangle is 26 inches. Its length is 7 inches.

Find the width.
P = 2ℓ + 2w Write the formula for perimeter.

26 = 2  7 + 2w Replace P with 26, and ℓ with 7.

26 = 14 + 2w Simplify.

26 - 14 = 14 - 14 + 2w Subtraction Property of Equality

12 = 2w Simplify.
12 2w
− =− Division Property of Equality
2 2
6=w Simplify. The width of the rectangle is 6 inches.

Exercises
Find the perimeter for each figure.

1. 2. 3. 23 ft
3 in. 6m 17 ft

7 in. 9m 21 ft

4. Find the length of a rectangle if the width is 4.7 meters and the perimeter is
12.6 meters.
Chapter 5 51 Glencoe Pre-Algebra
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5-1 Study Guide and Intervention (continued)

Perimeter and Area

Area Formulas can also be used to calculate the area of a figure. Area is a measure of
the surface enclosed by a figure and is always given in square units, u2.

Area of a rectangle Area of a triangle

w
h

 b

Words The area of a rectangle is the Words The area of a triangle is one-half
product of the length and width. the product of the base and height.
1
Symbols A = ℓw Symbols A = − bh
2

Example 1 The base of a triangle is 14 feet and its height is 4.5 feet. Find its area.
1
A=− bh Write the formula for area.
2
1
A = −  14  4.5 Replace b with 14 and h with 4.5.
2
A = 31.5 Simplify. The area is 31.5 square feet.

Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Example 2 Find the length of a rectangle with an area of 54 square yards and a
width of 8 yards.
A = ℓw Write the formula for area.

54 = 8ℓ Replace A with 54 and w with 8.

54 8ℓ
− =− Division Property of Equality
8 8
6.75 = ℓ Simplify. The length is 6.75 yards.

Exercises
Find the area for each figure.

1. 3 cm 2. 10 yd
3.

5 cm 15 yd 7 mm

13 mm

4. Find the height of a triangle if the area is 48 square millimeters and the base is
24 millimeters.

Chapter 5 52 Glencoe Pre-Algebra