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  • 4th Grade
  • Math
  • About 10 minutes
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How to Find Perimeter

Perimeter is the distance around a shape. Add up all the sides.

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How to Find PerimeterName:Date:Perimeter is the distance around a shape. Add up all the sides.1Find the length and width.2Add all four sides, or use P = 2 × l + 2 × w.3Write the answer in units, like cm or ft.Rectangle: 8 cm by 5 cm8 cm5 cmOpposite sides are equal:two sides are 8 cm,two sides are 5 cm.Add them all:8 + 5 + 8 + 5 = 26 cmOr use the formula: P = 2 × l + 2 × wP = 2 × 8 + 2 × 5 = 16 + 10 = 26 cmSquare: every side is the same6 in6 inA square has 4 equal sides.P = 4 × sP = 4 × 6 = 24 inPerimeter is a length, so the unit is just inches or centimeters, not square units.k5printables.com · Sheet #145524601 · Aligned with Common Core 4.MD.A.3

How to do it

  1. Find the length and width.
  2. Add all four sides, or use P = 2 × l + 2 × w.
  3. Write the answer in units.

Teaching tip

Trace around the rectangle with a finger while adding each side. This sheet is aligned with Common Core 4.MD.A.3.

How to Find Perimeter chart for 4th grade (area and perimeter), free printable
Printable preview

About this chart

Perimeter of an 8 cm by 5 cm rectangle by adding all four sides and with the formula, plus P = 4 × s for a square.

What kids practice

Perimeter is the distance around a shape, and area is the space inside it. Fourth graders use formulas for rectangles. Perimeter is P = 2 × l + 2 × w, or 4 × s for a square. Area is A = l × w, measured in square units. They also work backward to find a missing side, like a rug with an area of 48 square feet and a width of 6 feet, which is 8 feet long.

Watch for

  • Mixing up area and perimeter, especially in word problems.
  • Adding only two sides for perimeter, like 8 + 5 = 13 instead of 26.
  • Writing perimeter in square units or area in plain units.
  • Dividing the perimeter by 4 to find the length of a rectangle that is not a square.

It's free to print, as many copies as you need. See the full area and perimeter guide for 4th grade.

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