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Perimeter of rectangles and squares – practice for Years 3–5

Sample questions on Perimeter of rectangles and squares with the right answer and a worked solution, from easy to hard. In the Pickles Academy app a child gets new questions of the same kind every time, so they can't just learn the answers by heart.

Subject
Maths
Year
Years 3–5
Curriculum area
Geometry and measures

Question types: Perimeter of rectangles and squares

Rule: Perimeter of rectangles and squares

The perimeter is the length of the line all the way round a shape: add up all the sides.

Rectangle: P = 2 × (a + b), square: P = 4 × a.

Example: a = 9 cm, b = 8 cm: P = 2 × (9 + 8) = 2 × 17 = 34 cm

Watch out: A rectangle has four sides: 9 + 8 = 17 cm is only half the perimeter.

Sample questions

  1. Question 1 Easy

    Work out the perimeter of a rectangle with sides a = 7 cm and b = 11 cm.

    Show the solution
    Answer: 36 cm

    How it works: P = 2 × (a + b) = 2 × (7 + 11) = 36 cm

  2. Question 2 Normal

    A rectangle has a perimeter of 30 cm and side a = 12 cm. How long is side b?

    Show the solution
    Answer: 3 cm

    How it works: a + b = 30 ÷ 2 = 15 cm, b = 15 − 12 = 3 cm

  3. Question 3 Hard

    Work out the perimeter of a square with side a = 12 cm.

    Show the solution
    Answer: 48 cm

    How it works: P = 4 × a = 4 × 12 = 48 cm

Related topics

All Maths topics

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