Here are the 4 steps: 1. Look for clue words and decide perimeter or area 2. Draw a picture 3. Decide what formula to use 4. Solve These 4 steps help us solve perimeter and area word problems.

1. Perimeter and Area
Can you tell the difference?

2. Helpful Hints
Steps for solving perimeter or area
word problems:
Look for clue words, decide: perimeter
or area?
Draw a picture
Decide on a formula
Solve

3. Example One
Stephanie wants to build a fence around her
garden to keep the rabbits out! The length of
her garden is 4 feet and the width is 6 feet.
How much fencing will she need?

4. Example One
1. First, look for clue words!
Stephanie wants to build a fence around her
garden to keep the rabbits out! The length is
4 feet and the width is 6 feet. How much
fencing will she need?
The words “fence” and “around” tell me I’m
going to be finding perimeter.

5. Example One
2. Next, draw a picture.
Stephanie wants to build a fence around her
garden to keep the rabbits out! The length is
4 feet and the width is 6 feet. How much
fencing will she need?
3. I have drawn a rectangle.
4 ft. I will use the formula for the
perimeter of a rectangle.
6 ft.

6. Example One
4. I will solve using the following formula:
(2 x l) + (2 x w)
(2 x 4) + (2 x 6)
8 + 12
20 ft.

7. Now it’s your turn!
Take a look at these problems. We
will:
1. Look for clue words and decide:
perimeter or area?
2. Draw a picture.
3. Decide what formula to use.
4. Solve.

8. Problem #1
1. Perimeter or
Linda was placing new Area?
carpet inside her room.
She measured the width 2. Draw a
of her room. It was 12 picture.
feet. The length was 16
feet. How much carpet 3. What formula
did Linda need to cover will you use?
her floor?
4. Solve

9. Linda was placing new carpet
inside her room. She
measured the width of her 1. Perimeter or
room. It was 12 feet. The Area?
length was 16 feet. How
much carpet did Linda need
to cover her floor? 2. Draw a picture.
3. What formula
will you use?
(l x w)
12 ft.
4. Solve
16 ft.

10. Linda was placing new carpet inside her room. She measured
the width of her room. It was 12 feet. The length was 16 feet.
How much carpet did Linda need to cover her floor?
SOLUTION:
lxw
12 x 16
192 ft.²

11. Problem #2
1. Perimeter or
Area?
Larry was covering a
square bulletin board 2. Draw a
with paper. One side picture.
was of the square was 3
ft. How much paper did 3. What formula
he need? will you use?
4. Solve.

12. Larry was covering a
square bulletin board with 1. Perimeter or
Area?
paper. One side was of the
square was 3 ft. How
much paper did he need? 2. Draw a picture.
3. What formula
will you use?
(l x w)
3 ft.
4. Solve

13. Larry was covering a square bulletin board with paper.
One side was of the square was 3 ft. How much paper did
he need?
SOLUTION:
lxw
3x3
9 ft.²

14. Problem #2
1. Perimeter or
Area?
Karen wants to put
ribbon around her 2. Draw a
square frame. One side picture.
is 17 inches. How much
ribbon will she need? 3. What formula
will you use?
4. Solve.

15. Karen wants to put ribbon 1. Perimeter or
around her square frame. Area?
One side is 17 inches. How
much ribbon will she need?
2. Draw a picture.
3. What formula
will you use?
4xs
17 in.
4. Solve

16. Karen wants to put ribbon around her square frame. One
side is 17 inches. How much ribbon will she need?
SOLUTION:
4xs
4 x 17
68 in.

17. Closure
You learned a 4 step process. Do
you remember the 4 steps? Write
these on your slate.
What do these 4 steps help us do?