Geometry & MeasuresIntroduction

What is Area?

Part of Area of Rectangles & Triangles · GCSE GCSE Mathematics revision

This introduction covers What is Area? within Area of Rectangles & Triangles for GCSE Mathematics. Revise Area of Rectangles & Triangles in Geometry & Measures for GCSE Mathematics with 12 exam-style questions and 6 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 1 of 8 in this topic. Use this introduction to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.

Topic position

Section 1 of 8

Practice

12 questions

Recall

6 flashcards

What is Area?

Area measures how much SPACE a shape covers - like how many square tiles would fit inside it. If you're painting a wall or laying carpet, you need to know the area! We measure area in SQUARE units (cm², m², etc.)

Visual: Area Formulas

Diagram showing area formulas for 5 shapes: Rectangle (length × width), Triangle (½ × base × height), Parallelogram (base × perpendicular height), Trapezium (½(a+b) × height), Circle (πr²). Each shape shows labelled dimensions.

Remember: Height must be PERPENDICULAR (at 90°) to the base

Keep building this topic

Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in Area of Rectangles & Triangles. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.

The Key Formulas Why is Triangle Area = ½ × Rectangle?Worked Example 1: Rectangle

Practice Questions for Area of Rectangles & Triangles

Which formula gives the area of a rectangle with length l and width w?

A. 2(l + w)
B. l + w
C. l × w
D. (1/2) × l × w

1 markfoundation

Explain why the area formula for a triangle uses the perpendicular height rather than the slant height.

2 markshigher

Quick Recall Flashcards

Triangle Area

Area = ½ × base × perpendicular height (A = ½bh)

Rectangle Area

Area = length × width (A = l × w)

12 questions on Area of Rectangles & Triangles — practise free

Instant marking, adaptive difficulty, and 6 spaced repetition flashcards. Free until your GCSEs.

Try PrepWise Free

Back to

Area of Rectangles & Triangles

The Key Formulas