Area — Grade 2 Mathematics
The area of a shape is the amount of space it covers. We measure area in square units — like square centimetres (cm²) or square metres (m²). The easiest way to find area is to count unit squares.
Counting Squares
Each tiny square = 1 square unit (1 cm² if drawn on centimetre paper).
3 × 4 rectangle — count the squares
12 squares → Area = 12 cm²
Formula for Rectangle Area
A = l × w
Area of square (all sides equal) = side × side = s²
1 cm² = area of a square with sides 1 cm
1 m² = area of a square with sides 1 m
Worked Examples
Count the squares in this 2 × 5 rectangle:
- Count: 10 squares
- OR: 2 × 5 = 10 cm²
A rectangle is 8 cm long and 3 cm wide. Find its area.
- Area = l × w
- A = 8 × 3 = 24 cm²
A classroom is 10 m long and 7 m wide. How much carpet is needed to cover the floor?
- Area = l × w
- A = 10 × 7 = 70 m²
Area vs Perimeter
| Measurement | What it measures | Formula (rectangle) | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perimeter | Distance around the outside | P = 2(l + w) | cm, m |
| Area | Space inside the shape | A = l × w | cm², m² |
Practice Questions
Work out the area for each shape.
1. A rectangle is 6 cm long and 4 cm wide. What is its area?
2. A square has sides of 5 cm. What is its area?
3. A rectangle has an area of 36 cm² and a length of 9 cm. What is its width?
4. A wall is 5 m tall and 8 m wide. How many 1 m² tiles are needed to cover it?
5. A shape is made of 3 rows of 7 squares. What is its area?
Key Points to Remember
- Area = space inside a shape; measured in square units (cm², m²).
- Rectangle: A = l × w. Square: A = s × s = s².
- Count unit squares on a grid to find area by hand.
- Area uses squared units (²); perimeter uses regular units.
- To find a missing side: divide the area by the known side.