Mensuration Formulas, Tricks with Examples
Mensuration is the branch of mathematics that studies the measurement of the geometric figures and their parameters like length, volume, shape, surface area, lateral surface area, etc. Here, the concepts of mensuration are explained and all the important mensuration formulas and properties of different geometric shapes and figures are covered.
It is one of the most important chapters covered in high school Mathematics. It has immense practical applications in our day-to-day life. It is, for this reason, advanced concepts related to mensuration are covered in higher grades. It is also an important and scoring topic for competitive exams, like the Olympiads and NTSE. Mensuration problems are asked in various government job exams as well, like SSC, Banking, Insurance, etc. It is, therefore, important for everyone to understand and memorize the various mensuration formulas of all geometrical figures.
Mensuration Formulas: Area Formulas & Perimeter Formulas
Before getting into the list of Mensuration formulas, i.e. area formulas and perimeter formulas of all major geometric shapes, let’s have a look at the definition of ‘area’ and ‘perimeter’.
What Is Area Of A Geometric Figure?
The area of a closed geometric figure is basically the size or extent of the two-dimensional surface of the figure.
What Is Perimeter Of A Geometric Figure?
The perimeter of a closed geometric figure is the total length of the boundary of the figure.
Let us now go through the area and perimeter formulas of common f=geometric figures.
Area Formulas Of Common Geometric Figures
The table below shows the area formulas of common geometrical figures:
| Geometrical Shapes | Area Formulas | Variables |
| Area of Square | Area = a x a = a2 | a = Length of each side of the square |
| Area of Rectangle | Area = l x b | l = Length of the rectangle b = Breadth of the rectangle |
| Area of Triangle | Area = (b x h)/2 | b = Length of the base of the triangle h = Height of the triangle |
| Area of Circle | πr2 | π = 22/7 = 3.14159 (approx) r = Radius of the circle |
| Area of Parallelogram | Area = b x h | b = Base of the parallelogram h = Height of the parallelogram |
| Area of Trapezium | Area = {(a + b) x h}/2 | a + b= Sum of the lengths of the two parallel sides of the trapezoid, i.e. Base 1 and Base 2 h = Perpendicular distance between the two parallel sides |
| Area of Rhombus | Area = (p x q)/2 | p = Length of 1st diagonal q = Length of second diagonal pq = Product of the two diagonals |
| Area of Ellipse | Area = πab | a = Major radius b = Minor radius |
Perimeter Formulas Of Common Geometrical Figures
The perimeter formulas of common geometrical figures are as under:
| Geometrical Shapes | Perimeter Formulas | Variables |
| Perimeter of Square | Perimeter = 4a | a = Length of each side of the square |
| Perimeter of Rectangle | Perimeter = 2 (l + b) | l = Length of the rectangle b = Breadth of the rectangle |
| Perimeter of Triangle | Perimeter = a + b + c | a, b and c are the lengths of the three sides of the triangle |
| Perimeter of Circle | Perimeter = πd = 2πr | π = 22/7 = 3.14159 (approx) r = Radius of the circle d = Diameter of the circle |
| Perimeter of Parallelogram | Perimeter = 2 (l + b) | l = Length of the parallelogram b = Breadth of the parallelogram |
| Perimeter of Trapezium | Perimeter = a + b + c + d | a, b, c, d are the lengths of the four sides of the trapezoid |
| Perimeter of Rhombus | Perimeter = 4a | a = Length of each side of the rhombus |
| Perimeter of Kite | Perimeter= 2a + 2b | a = Length of each side of the first pair b = Length of each side of the second pair |
Additional Area And Parameter Formulas
Some additional formulas to calculate area and perimeters are as under:
| Area of a Triangle of Given Sides – a, b, c | Area = √ [s (s – a) (s – b) (s – c)] | s = Semi-perimeter of the triangle = (a + b + c)/2 |
| Area of an Isosceles Triangle | Area = (base x height)/2 base = b height = √(a2 − b2/4) |
a = Length of each of the equal sides of the isosceles triangle b = Length of the base |
| Perimeter of an Isosceles Triangle | Perimeter = 2a + b | a = Length of each of the equal sides of the isosceles triangle b = Length of the base |
| Area of an Equilateral Triangle | Area = (√3 x a2)/4 | a = Length of each side of the equilateral triangle |
| Perimeter of an Equilateral Triangle | Perimeter = 3a | a = Length of each side of the equilateral triangle |
| Perimeter of a Semi-Circle | Perimeter = πr + d = 3πr | r = Radius of the circle d = 2r = Diameter of the circle |
| Area of a Semi-Circle | Area = (πr2) x (1/2) | r = Radius of the circle |
So, now you are aware of the common mensuration formulas that you must have at your fingertips. Memorize them by heart. Make sure you are aware of what the variables in the area formulas and perimeter formulas mean. Solve a sufficient number of practice questions to master the application.
Mensuration based Example:
- Remain the same
- Decrease by 13.64%
- Decrease by 15%
- Decrease by 18.75%
- Decrease by 30%
