Area and Perimeter of Quadrilaterals

Say you have an empty patch in your garden in the shape of a square. You wish to plant a bed of Ixora flowers within this patch and enclosed it with a white picket fence. However, you realise that you need to know the measures of two things: one being the area enclosed by this square patch and two being the size of its bordering edge. How do you think you would measure this?

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StudySmarter Editorial Team

Team Area and Perimeter of Quadrilaterals Teachers

  • 11 minutes reading time
  • Checked by StudySmarter Editorial Team
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    Example 1, StudySmarter Originals

    Example 1, StudySmarter Originals

    As a matter of fact, we can use a general formula for the perimeter and area of a square to work out these measurements. Recall that a square is a type of quadrilateral, which is a polygon of four sides and four corners. Throughout this discussion, we shall look at the perimeter and area formulas of the six types of quadrilaterals mentioned in our previous topic: Quadrilaterals.

    Recap: Quadrilaterals

    Before we begin, let us recount a quick review of quadrilaterals.

    A quadrilateral is a polygon with four sides, four vertices and four angles.

    It is also known as a tetragon or quadrangle. Quadrilaterals have two diagonals and the sum of all their interior angles equals 360o. There are six types of quadrilaterals we should familiarise ourselves with, namely the square, the rectangle, the parallelogram, the trapezium, the rhombus and the kite. For a more detailed discussion regarding the characteristics of these mentioned quadrilaterals, you can refer to the article: Special Quadrilaterals.

    Perimeter of Quadrilaterals

    We shall begin our topic with the perimeter formula for quadrilaterals. The perimeter of a quadrilateral is defined as the total length of its boundary. That is to say, it is the sum of all its sides. Thus, if we had a quadrilateral ABCD

    The perimeter of quadrilaterals, StudySmarter Originals

    The perimeter of quadrilaterals, StudySmarter Originals

    with sides AB, BC, CD and DA, the perimeter, P is

    P=AB+BC+CD+DA

    or

    P=a+b+c+d

    Let us go through some worked examples involving this derivation.

    Find the perimeter of the parallelogram below.

    Example 2, StudySmarter Originals

    Example 2, StudySmarter Originals

    Solution

    Recall that a parallelogram has opposite sides of equal length. This means that PQ = SR and PS = QR. Thus, SR = 16 cm and QR = 10 cm.

    In order to find the perimeter of this given shape, we simply add the total length of each side as mentioned.

    P=16+16+10+10P=2(16)+2(10)P=32+20P=52 cm

    Thus, the perimeter of this parallelogram is 52 cm.

    Find the length of the missing sides of the kite below given that the perimeter is equal to 98 cm.

    Example 3, StudySmarter Originals

    Example 3, StudySmarter Originals

    Solution

    First, note that a kite has two pairs of equal adjacent sides. This means that WZ = WX (and YZ = YX = 32 cm).

    By the formula for the perimeter of a quadrilateral, we obtain

    P=32+32+WX+WZ98=64+WX+WX98=64+2WX

    Now rearranging this, we find that

    64+2WX=982WX=98-642WX=34

    Further simplifying,

    WX=342WX=17 cm

    Thus, the length of WX and WZ is 17 cm.

    Calculating the Perimeter of Quadrilaterals on a Plane

    Say you were given a set of four points, (x, y), on a Cartesian plane. Joining these points together with four (separate) line segments, we find that it forms the shape of some quadrilateral. You are then told to find the perimeter of this shape using these coordinates. Is there a method we could use to accomplish this?

    To tackle such a problem, we shall make use of the distance formula. This is introduced below.

    Distance Formula

    Given two points A(x1, y1) and B(x2, y2), the distance between A and B, denoted by DAB is found using the formula below.

    DAB=(x2-x1)2+(y2-y1)2

    With that being said, we can find the perimeter of this quadrilateral by calculating the distance of these four line segments (formed by their corresponding pair of points) and adding them all up together.

    Note: Given a set of four points, it may be helpful for you to sketch the outline of this quadrilateral so that we can roughly gauge the type of quadrilateral we are dealing with. By doing so, we would be able to notice its distinct properties and thus calculate its perimeter much more efficiently.

    To get a better visual of this, let us look at the examples below.

    Find the perimeter of a rectangle with vertices at A (1, 6), B (1, 2), C (4, 2) and D (4, 6).

    Solution

    Let us begin by sketching this quadrilateral on the Cartesian plane.

    Example 4, StudySmarter Originals

    Example 4, StudySmarter Originals

    Since we have a rectangle, AB = DC and AD = BC. Thus, we can use the distance formula for the lengths of AB and AD.

    Distance AB, A (1, 6) and B (1, 2)

    DAB=(1-1)2+(2-6)2DAB=(0)2+(-4)2DAB=16DAB=4 units

    Distance AD, A (1, 6) and D (4, 6)

    DAD=(4-1)2+(6-6)2DAD=(3)2+(0)2DAD=9DAD=3 units

    Perimeter ABCD

    P=AB+DC+AD+BCP=4+4+3+3P=14 units

    Deduce the perimeter of a quadrilateral with vertices at A (–2, 8), B (0, 8), C (1, 4) and D (–1, 6).

    Solution

    Let us begin by sketching this quadrilateral on the Cartesian plane.

    Example 5, StudySmarter Originals

    Example 5, StudySmarter Originals

    Looking at the sketch above, we need to find the distance of AB, BC, CD and AD to calculate the perimeter of ABCD.

    Distance AB, A (–2, 8) and B (0, 8)

    DAB=(-2-0)2+(8-8)2DAB=(-2)2+(0)2DAB=4DAB=2 units

    Distance BC, B (0, 8) and C (1, 4)

    DBC=(1-0)2+(4-8)2DBC=(1)2+(-4)2DBC=1+16DBC=17 units

    Distance CD, C (1, 4) and D (-1, 6)

    DCD=(-1-1)2+(6-4)2DCD=(-2)2+(2)2DCD=4+4DCD=8DCD=22 units

    Distance AD, A (-2, 8) and D (-1, 6)

    DAD=(-1-2)2+(6-8)2DAD=(-3)2+(-2)2DAD=9+4DAD=13 units

    Perimeter ABCD

    P=AB+DC+AD+BCP=2+17+22+13P=12.6 units (correct to one decimal place)

    Area of Quadrilaterals

    In this segment of our discussion, we shall move on to the area formula for quadrilaterals. The area of a quadrilateral is described by the space bounded by its boundary. Each of the six types of quadrilaterals we have mentioned previously has its own area formula.

    Quadrilateral

    Area

    Square

    Area of a square, StudySmarter Originals

    Area of a square, StudySmarter Originals

    A=a×a=a2

    Rectangle

    Area of a rectangle, StudySmarter Originals

    Area of a rectangle, StudySmarter Originals

    A=a×b

    Parallelogram

    Area of a parallelogram, StudySmarter Originals

    Area of a parallelogram, StudySmarter Originals

    A=a×h

    Trapezium

    Area of a trapezium, StudySmarter Originals

    Area of a trapezium, StudySmarter Originals

    A=12×a+b×h

    Rhombus

    Area of a rhombus, StudySmarter Originals

    Area of a rhombus, StudySmarter Originals

    A=12×d1×d2

    Kite

    Area of a kite, StudySmarter Originals

    Area of a kite, StudySmarter Originals

    A=12×d1×d2

    Here are several worked examples that show how we can apply these formulas.

    Calculate the area of the rhombus below given that PO = 7 cm and SO = 4cm. Point O is the point at which the two diagonals PR and SQ perpendicularly bisect each other.

    Example 6, StudySmarter Originals

    Example 6, StudySmarter Originals

    Solution

    Remember: We need the measures of the diagonals, PR and SQ, of the rhombus to calculate its area. Since the diagonals of a rhombus are perpendicular and bisect each other, we find that PO = OR and SO = OQ and thus,

    PR=PO+OR=2POSQ=SO+OQ=2SO

    Solving this, we obtain

    PR=2(7)=14 cmSQ=2(4)=8 cm

    Thus, the vertical diagonal, PR is 14 cm and the horizontal diagonal, SQ is 8 cm. By the area formula for a rhombus,

    A=12×14×8A=1122A=56 cm2

    Thus, the area of this rhombus is 56 cm2.

    What is the height of the trapezium below given that the area is 330 cm2?

    Example 7, StudySmarter Originals

    Example 7, StudySmarter Originals

    Solution

    Since AB is parallel to DC, the bases of this trapezium are given by AB = 13 cm and DC = 31 cm. The height is given by AD. By the formula for the area of a trapezium, we obtain

    A=12×13+31×AD330=12×44×AD330=22×AD

    Rearranging this and simplifying our expression, we obtain

    22×AD=330AD=33022AD=15 cm

    Thus, the height of this trapezium, AD is 15 cm.

    Calculating the Area of Quadrilaterals on a Plane

    To find the area of a quadrilateral represented by a set of points on the Cartesian coordinate system, we would simply use the same technique as with the perimeter case. Yes, the distance formula applies here as well! However, we would need to be careful here as there are some area formulas that do not include the sides of a given quadrilateral but rather their diagonal or perpendicular height; such as the parallelogram, trapezium, rhombus and kite.

    The examples below will give a clearer picture of this procedure.

    Find the area of a kite with vertices at A (0, 4), B (1, 2), C (0, –4) and D (–1, 2).

    Solution

    Let us begin by sketching this quadrilateral on the Cartesian plane.

    Example 8, StudySmarter Originals

    Example 8, StudySmarter Originals

    Since we have a kite, we need the length of the diagonals to equate its area. The diagonals here are AC and BD.

    Distance AC, A (0, 4) and C (0, –4)

    DAC=(0-0)2+(-4-4)2DAC=(0)2+(-8)2DAC=64DAC=8 units

    Distance BD, B (1, 2) and D (–1, 2)

    DBD=(-1-1)2+(2-2)2DBD=(-2)2+(0)2DBD=4DBD=2 units

    Area ABCD

    A=12×AC×DBA=12×8×2A=8 units2

    Find the area of a square with vertices at A (2, 3), B (2, –3), C (–2, –3) and D (–2, 3).

    Solution

    Let us begin by sketching this quadrilateral on the Cartesian plane.

    Example 9, StudySmarter Originals

    Example 9, StudySmarter Originals

    As have a square, AB = BC = CD = AD. Thus, we can simply find one side to compute the area of this square. We shall choose to find AB.

    Distance AB, A (2, 3) and B (2, –3)

    DAB=(2-2)2+(-3-3)2DAB=(0)2+(-6)2DAB=36DAB=6 units

    Area ABCD

    A=AB×BCA=AB2A=62A=36 units2

    Examples of Perimeter and Area of Quadrilaterals

    We shall end this topic with two worked examples involving the perimeter and area formulas for quadrilaterals. In the final example, we will be looking back at our first example at the beginning of this discussion.

    Find the perimeter and area of the parallelogram MBND inscribed in the rectangle ABCD below. Here, AM = 6cm.

    Example 10, StudySmarter Originals

    Example 10, StudySmarter Originals

    Solution

    The formula for the area of any parallelogram requires the length of its width and perpendicular height. The width is described by MB (or DN and MB = DN) while the perpendicular height is defined by MO. The length of MO is equal to the height of the rectangle ABCD. Thus, MO = AD = BC = 55 cm.

    The width of the rectangle is AB = 84 cm. This is made up of both line segments AM and MB so

    AB=AM+MB84=48+MBMB=84-48MB=36 cm

    Thus, the length of MB is 36 cm. By the area formula for a parallelogram, we obtain

    AMBND=55×36AMBND=1980 cm2

    Thus, the area of this parallelogram is 1980 cm2.

    Now we need to find the length of the side MD to calculate the perimeter of this parallelogram. Notice that MOD is a right-angle triangle. Since we have the lengths of MO = 55 cm and DO = AD = 48 cm, we can use Pythagoras' Theorem! Here, MD is the hypotenuse.

    MD2=552+482MD2=3025+2304MD2=5329MD=5329MD=73 cm

    Thus, the length of MD is 73 cm. Note that MD = BN. So the perimeter is equal to 218 cm since

    PMBDN=73+73+36+36PMBDN=218 cm

    Real-world Example for the Perimeter and Area of Quadrilaterals

    The length of each side of this square patch is 3.7 metres.

    Example 11, StudySmarter Originals

    Example 11, StudySmarter Originals

    To find the perimeter of this square patch, we simply add the total length of each side. Similarly, we could multiply this side length by 3.7 meters.

    P=3.7×4P=14.8 m

    The area is found by squaring the side length of this square patch.

    A=3.72A=13.69 m2

    Thus, the perimeter of this square patch is 14.8 m and the area is 13.69 m2.

    Area and Perimeter of Quadrilaterals - Key takeaways

    • The perimeter of a quadrilateral is the sum of all its sides, i.e. P = a + b + c + d
    • Area formula for quadrilaterals

      Quadrilateral

      Area

      Square

      A=a×a=a2

      Rectangle

      A=a×b

      Parallelogram

      A=a×h

      Trapezium

      A=12×a+b×h

      Rhombus

      A=12×d1×d2

      Kite

      A=12×d1×d2

    • We can find the perimeter and area of a quadrilateral given by a set of four points using the Distance Formula.DAB=(x2-x1)2+(y2-y1)2
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    Area and Perimeter of Quadrilaterals
    Frequently Asked Questions about Area and Perimeter of Quadrilaterals

    How do you find the perimeter and area of a quadrilateral? 

    The perimeter is the sum of all its sides. The area is the product of its height and width. 

    What is the formula for the perimeter of a quadrilateral? 

    The sum of all its sides.

    What are the area and perimeter of quadrilaterals? 

    The area is the space bounded by its boundary and the perimeter is the total length of its boundary.

    What are the rules for calculating the area and perimeter of quadrilaterals? 

    Ensure that you identify the side lengths, diagonals and perpendicular height before calculating the area and perimeter of a quadrilateral.

    How do you calculate the area of a quadrilateral with coordinates? 

    Using the distance formula.

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    • Checked by StudySmarter Editorial Team
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