How to Show the Area of a Figure

Geometry is prevalent in everyday life even though you might not realize it.

Geometry is one of the main forms of mathematics that we find in our everyday lives. Though it is more prevalent in occupations such as engineering and architecture, we should all know how to calculate the area of a figure. This can come in handy when planning parties and figuring out where to put the tables, or when figuring out how much flooring to get to cover a room.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Pencil
• Ruler

Instructions

1. Draw the shape of the object on your paper. Scale doesn't matter as long as you know the original measurements of the sides.

2. Note the length of the object next to the appropriate side of the object.

3. Note the width of the object next to the appropriate side of the object. The length and the width vary depending on the shape of the figure.

4. Multiply the length by the width. Write this number in the center of your figure. This is the area of the figure.

Tips & Warnings

• Length times width is the area of a rectangle. If you have a different type of shape, there are several equations you can use to find the area. (Refer to the Resources section.)

References

• Math Guide: Area Lessons
• Equation Sheet: Area of a Rectangle

Resources

• Equation Sheet: Area Equations
• Math Goodies: Area of a Triangle
• Math Open Reference: Area of a Square
• Math Is Fun: Area of Plane Shapes