Area is like the size or extent of a two-dimensional shape, such as a painting or a piece of land. It's how much space is inside the shape. We measure area in square meters (m²). Imagine it's like the amount of paint needed to cover a surface.
A rectangle is a simple shape with four right angles. To find its area, just multiply its length and width:
Area = Length × Width
For example, if a piece of land is 220 feet long and 99 feet wide:
Area = 220 × 99 = 21,780 sq ft
Triangles are a bit tricky, but you can use Heron's formula to find their area. It depends on the lengths of its sides. We'll skip the details for now.
A trapezoid is like a rectangle with one slanted side. To find its area, use this formula:
Area = (Sum of Bases / 2) × Height
It's like taking the average of the two bases (the longer and shorter sides) and then multiplying by the height.
A circle is a round shape, and its area depends on the radius (the distance from the center to the edge). Use this formula:
Area = π × Radius²
π is a special number. For a circle with a radius of 15 feet:
Area = π × 15² = 706.858 sq ft
A sector is a part of a circle, like a slice of pizza. Its area depends on the angle and the radius. Use this formula:
Area = (Angle / 360) × π × Radius²
For example, if you have a 60-degree sector with a radius of 16 inches:
Area = (60 / 360) × π × 16² = 134.041 sq in
An ellipse is like a stretched circle. Its area depends on the lengths of its axes (major and minor). Use this formula:
Area = π × Major Axis × Minor Axis
It's a bit more complex than a circle, but we won't go into details here.
A parallelogram is a shape with opposite sides equal and parallel. To find its area, multiply its base and height:
Area = Base × Height
For example, if a parallelogram has a base of 20 ft and a height of 18 ft:
Area = 20 × 18 = 360 sq ft
Here are some common area units: