Find The Perimeter of The Following Polygon Calculator

The perimeter of a polygon is the total distance around its outer boundary. This calculator helps you find the perimeter of any polygon by summing the lengths of its sides. Whether you're working with a square, rectangle, triangle, or irregular polygon, this tool provides an accurate and efficient way to determine the perimeter.

How to Calculate the Perimeter of a Polygon

Calculating the perimeter of a polygon involves adding up the lengths of all its sides. The process is straightforward but requires knowing the lengths of each side. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Identify the Polygon's Sides

First, determine the number of sides the polygon has. For example, a square has 4 sides of equal length, while a rectangle has 2 pairs of equal sides. An irregular polygon has sides of different lengths.

Step 2: Measure Each Side

Measure the length of each side of the polygon. For regular polygons, you only need to measure one side since all sides are equal. For irregular polygons, measure each side individually.

Step 3: Sum the Side Lengths

Add up the lengths of all the sides to find the perimeter. For example, if a square has sides of 5 cm each, the perimeter is 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 20 cm.

Tip

For polygons with many sides, it's helpful to list each side's length in order to avoid missing any or adding them incorrectly.

The Perimeter Formula

The perimeter (P) of a polygon is calculated by summing the lengths of all its sides (s₁, s₂, s₃, ..., sₙ). The general formula is:

Perimeter Formula

P = s₁ + s₂ + s₃ + ... + sₙ

Where:

P is the perimeter
s₁, s₂, s₃, ..., sₙ are the lengths of each side

For regular polygons (where all sides are equal), the formula simplifies to:

Regular Polygon Perimeter Formula

P = n × s

Where:

n is the number of sides
s is the length of one side

Worked Examples

Example 1: Square

A square has four equal sides, each measuring 6 cm. What is its perimeter?

Using the perimeter formula:

P = 6 cm + 6 cm + 6 cm + 6 cm = 24 cm

Example 2: Rectangle

A rectangle has sides of 8 cm and 5 cm. What is its perimeter?

Using the perimeter formula:

P = 8 cm + 5 cm + 8 cm + 5 cm = 26 cm

Example 3: Irregular Pentagon

An irregular pentagon has sides measuring 7 cm, 9 cm, 5 cm, 8 cm, and 6 cm. What is its perimeter?

Using the perimeter formula:

P = 7 cm + 9 cm + 5 cm + 8 cm + 6 cm = 35 cm

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between perimeter and area?

The perimeter measures the distance around the outside of a polygon, while the area measures the space inside the polygon. For example, a square with sides of 5 cm has a perimeter of 20 cm and an area of 25 cm².

Can I use this calculator for 3D shapes?

No, this calculator is designed specifically for 2D polygons. For 3D shapes, you would need a different tool that calculates surface area or volume.

How accurate is this calculator?

The calculator provides precise results based on the input values you provide. It uses standard mathematical formulas to ensure accuracy.

Can I calculate the perimeter of a circle with this tool?

No, this calculator is for polygons only. The perimeter of a circle is called its circumference, which is calculated using a different formula: C = 2πr, where r is the radius.