Geometry Formulas

Chapter 12

Determining Units for Geometry

Perimeter
One dimension (l) Units are given with NO exponents

Area
Two-dimensional (l w) and (b h) Units are always squared (to the second power)

Volume
Three dimensional (l w h) or (area of base h)
Units are always cubed (to the third power)

Polygons: closed figures with angles and sides.

square

triangle

parallelogram

rectangle

Perimeter
Add all sides together.
square

KNOW THIS: The formula for parallelograms such as those shown to the right:

rectangle

P = 2l + 2w
parallelogram

Area of Squares
Four congruent sides Four 90 (right) angles To find the area, multiply base and height. Since base and height are the same, multiply side times side
square

5 inches

A = s s or A = s2

A = s2 A = (5)(5) A = 25 in2

Most times, only one side will be given.

Area of Rectangles
Two sets of congruent sides Four 90 (right) angles To find the area, multiply base and height (also known as length and width).
2 in
rectangle

5 in

A= lw A = (5)(2) A = 10 in2

A=bh or A=lw

Area of Parallelograms
parallelogram 6 cm

A= bh A = (6)(5) A = 30 in2

Two sets of congruent sides No right angles in the 5 cm shape Look for the right angle made by the dotted line! To find the area, multiply base and height. The height is represented by a dotted line either inside or outside the parallelogram

Area of Triangles
Three-sided closed figure Look for a right angle! It may be on a side or it may be in the middle of the triangle. To find the area, multiply base and height then divide that answer by two
7 in triangle

8 in

A= bh A = (8)(7) A = (56) A = 28 in2

A = b h

Volume
Identify the shape of the base (B). That is the part of the object that would sit on a table. Find the area of that base Multiply the base (B) times the height. Formula:

Volume = Base height

Base (B) is the area of the shape sitting on a table.

The units for volume are always cubed! (units3)

Volume of a Cube
Find the area of the square base

A = s2 or A=ss

5 units
5 units

V = [s2] h V = [(5)(5)] 5 V = 25 5 V = 125 units3

Multiply the area times the height

V = (s2) h

Volume of Rectangular Prisms

To find the area, multiply the length and width.
5 units 10 units

A=lw
To find the volume, multiply the length and width times the height

V = [l w] h

V = [10 5] 5
V = 50 5 V = 250 in3

V = [l w] h

Volume of Triangular Prisms

To find the area, multiply the base and height of the triangle then divide by two. 4 in 3 in

A=bh
Or

A = [b h 2]
To find the volume, multiply the area for the base of the triangle by the height

V = [ b h] h V = [(3)(4)] 5 V = [(12)] 5 V = [6] 5

V = [b h 2] h

V = 30 in3

Circles

1 diameter

Radius + Radius

Diameter =

Radius + Radius

Radius

1/2 diameter

Radius

Diameter

Circumference of a Circle
Find or make a diameter, which is line that goes from one end of a circle to the other AND passes through the center point.
Diameter (d) = 2 radii (r)

Multiply the diameter times pi (3.14) Make sure your units are correct!

Circumference
Circumference is a made of a single dimension. You can measure it with a tape measure. Units do not have exponents Formula: d Since the diameter is equal to 2 radii, the formula can also be: 2 r See next page for 2 examples

Circumference
8 cm 4 cm

C=

C =2

C = 3.14 (8 cm)
C = 25.12 cm

C = (2)(3.14)(8 cm)
C = 25.12 cm

Area of a Circle
Both the units for area and the formula for area are squared

Formula:

r2 units2

You CANNOT use a diameter in this formulaYou MUST either use the radius, or create one by dividing the diameter into two pieces.

Area of a Circle
8 cm 5 cm

A=

r2 A= r2 A = 3.14 (5) (5) A = 3.14 (25) A = 78.5 cm2

R = 8 2 = 4 cm

A = 3.14 (4) (4)

A = 3.14 (16) A = 50.24 cm2

Volume of a Cylinder
8 cm

5 cm
10 cm

V =[

r2] h

R = 8 2 = 4 cm

V = [3.14 (4) (4)] 10

V = [3.14 (16)] 10
V = 502.4 cm3

V =[ r2] h V = [3.14 (5) (5)] 3 V = [3.14 (25)] 3 V = [78.5] 3 V = 236.25 cm3