CBSE Class 6 Maths Revision Notes Chapter 6 Perimeter and Area

Perimeter is the distance around a closed figure, while area is the space covered by it. In CBSE Class 6 Maths Chapter 6, students learn formulas for rectangles, squares, triangles and real-life word problems based on measurement.

Class 6 Maths Chapter 6 Perimeter and Area helps students understand two important ideas in geometry. Perimeter tells us the length of the boundary of a shape. Area tells us how much region is enclosed inside the shape.

These CBSE Class 6 Maths Revision Notes Chapter 6 for the 2026–27 academic year cover perimeter, area, formulas, units, word problems, regular polygons, area of triangles and real-life applications. The notes are arranged for quick revision and easy exam preparation.

Key Takeaways

  • Perimeter: It is the total distance around a closed figure.
  • Area: It is the amount of region enclosed by a closed figure.
  • Units: Perimeter is measured in linear units, while area is measured in square units.
  • Formulas: Rectangles, squares and triangles use simple formulas for perimeter and area.

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Integers infographic explaining positive and negative numbers using a labelled number line.

Access Maths Notes for Chapter 6 Perimeter and Area Class 6 in 30 Minutes

Use this order to revise the chapter quickly:

Revision Order Topic
1 Meaning of perimeter
2 Perimeter of rectangle, square and triangle
3 Perimeter of regular polygons
4 Meaning of area
5 Area of rectangle and square
6 Area of triangle
7 Area using grid paper
8 Difference between perimeter and area
9 Word problems based on real-life situations

This order helps students understand boundary first and then the space inside a shape.

Class 6 Mathematics Chapter 6 Notes: Key Concepts

Perimeter and area are used to measure shapes.

A closed figure has a boundary and an inside region. The boundary gives us perimeter. The inside region gives us area.

What Is Perimeter?

Perimeter is the distance covered along the boundary of a closed figure when we go around it once.

For a polygon, perimeter is the sum of the lengths of all its sides.

Formula:
Perimeter of a polygon = Sum of all sides

Examples where perimeter is used:

  • Fencing a garden
  • Putting lace around a tablecloth
  • Bordering a photo frame
  • Running around a track
  • Measuring the boundary of a field

What Is Area?

Area is the amount of region enclosed by a closed figure.

It tells us how much surface a shape covers.

Examples where area is used:

  • Laying tiles on a floor
  • Placing a carpet in a room
  • Painting a wall
  • Measuring land
  • Finding space covered by a garden or playground

Perimeter of Common Shapes

Perimeter is measured in units such as cm, m or km.

If the sides are in centimetres, the perimeter will also be in centimetres. If the sides are in metres, the perimeter will be in metres.

Perimeter of a Rectangle

A rectangle has opposite sides equal.

If the length is l and breadth is b:

Perimeter of a rectangle = 2 × (length + breadth)

or

P = 2 × (l + b)

Example:

A rectangle has length 12 cm and breadth 8 cm.

P = 2 × (12 + 8)
P = 2 × 20
P = 40 cm

So, the perimeter is 40 cm.

Perimeter of a Square

A square has four equal sides.

If one side is s:

Perimeter of a square = 4 × side

or

P = 4s

Example:

A square photo frame has side 1 m.

P = 4 × 1
P = 4 m

So, the length of tape required around it is 4 m.

Perimeter of a Triangle

A triangle has three sides.

Perimeter of a triangle = Sum of all three sides

Example:

A triangle has sides 4 cm, 5 cm and 7 cm.

Perimeter = 4 + 5 + 7
Perimeter = 16 cm

So, the perimeter is 16 cm.

Perimeter of a Regular Polygon

A regular polygon has all sides equal.

Examples include an equilateral triangle, square, regular pentagon and regular hexagon.

Perimeter of a regular polygon = Number of sides × Length of one side

Example:

A regular hexagon has 6 equal sides. If each side is 5 cm:

Perimeter = 6 × 5
Perimeter = 30 cm

Important Perimeter Formulas

Shape Formula
Rectangle 2 × (length + breadth)
Square 4 × side
Triangle Sum of three sides
Equilateral Triangle 3 × side
Regular Polygon Number of sides × side length

Area of Common Shapes

Area is measured in square units.

If length and breadth are in centimetres, area is measured in square centimetres. If they are in metres, area is measured in square metres.

Area of a Rectangle

The area of a rectangle is found by multiplying its length and breadth.

Area of a rectangle = length × breadth

or

A = l × b

Example:

A floor is 5 m long and 4 m wide.

Area = 5 × 4
Area = 20 sq m

So, the area of the floor is 20 square metres.

Area of a Square

A square has all sides equal.

Area of a square = side × side

or

A = s × s

Example:

A square carpet has side 3 m.

Area = 3 × 3
Area = 9 sq m

So, the area of the carpet is 9 square metres.

Area of a Triangle

A rectangle can be divided into two equal triangles by drawing a diagonal.

So, each triangle has half the area of the rectangle.

If a triangle has base b and height h:

Area of a triangle = 1/2 × base × height

or

A = 1/2 × b × h

Example:

A triangle has base 8 cm and height 5 cm.

Area = 1/2 × 8 × 5
Area = 4 × 5
Area = 20 sq cm

So, the area is 20 square centimetres.

Important Area Formulas

Shape Formula
Rectangle length × breadth
Square side × side
Triangle 1/2 × base × height

Difference Between Perimeter and Area

Students often mix perimeter and area. The difference is simple.

Perimeter is about the outside boundary. Area is about the inside space.

Basis Perimeter Area
Meaning Distance around a closed figure Region covered by a closed figure
Measures Boundary Surface
Units cm, m, km sq cm, sq m, sq km
Used for Fencing, borders, running tracks Flooring, painting, carpeting
Example Boundary of a garden Grass-covered space inside garden

Units of Measurement in Perimeter and Area

Units are very important in this chapter.

Units of Perimeter

Perimeter is a length. So, it is measured in linear units.

Examples:

  • cm
  • m
  • km

Units of Area

Area is a surface measure. So, it is measured in square units.

Examples:

  • sq cm
  • sq m
  • sq km

Unit Table

Measurement Unit Type Example
Perimeter Linear unit 24 cm
Area Square unit 24 sq cm

If a question asks for fencing, border, rope, lace or running distance, use perimeter.

If a question asks for carpet, tiles, floor, wall, land or space covered, use area.

Applications of Perimeter and Area

Perimeter and area are used in many real-life situations.

Real-Life Uses of Perimeter

Perimeter is used when we measure the boundary of a shape.

Examples:

  • Fencing a rectangular park
  • Putting lace around a tablecloth
  • Running around a field
  • Placing tape around a frame
  • Measuring rope needed around a field

Real-Life Uses of Area

Area is used when we measure the surface covered by a shape.

Examples:

  • Finding carpet area
  • Measuring floor space
  • Tiling a room
  • Painting a wall
  • Finding land available for a lawn

Solving Word Problems on Perimeter and Area

Word problems become easier when students identify what the question is asking.

Step 1: Read the Question Carefully

Check whether the question asks for boundary or surface.

Boundary means perimeter.
Surface means area.

Step 2: Identify the Shape

Check whether the figure is a rectangle, square, triangle or regular polygon.

Step 3: Write the Formula

Write the correct formula before substituting values.

Step 4: Substitute the Values

Put length, breadth, side, base or height in the formula.

Step 5: Write the Correct Unit

Use linear units for perimeter and square units for area.

Solved Examples for Class 6 Maths Chapter 6 Perimeter and Area

Example 1: Perimeter of a Rectangle

A rectangular tablecloth is 3 m long and 2 m wide. Find the length of lace needed around it.

Length = 3 m
Breadth = 2 m

Perimeter = 2 × (length + breadth)
= 2 × (3 + 2)
= 2 × 5
= 10 m

Answer: 10 m of lace is required.

Example 2: Distance Around a Square Park

A square park has side 75 m. Usha takes 3 rounds of the park. Find the total distance covered.

Perimeter of square = 4 × side
= 4 × 75
= 300 m

Distance in 3 rounds = 3 × 300
= 900 m

Answer: Usha covers 900 m.

Example 3: Find the Missing Side of a Triangle

A triangle has perimeter 55 cm. Two sides are 20 cm and 14 cm. Find the third side.

Third side = Perimeter - Sum of two sides
= 55 - (20 + 14)
= 55 - 34
= 21 cm

Answer: The third side is 21 cm.

Example 4: Area Not Covered by Carpet

A floor is 5 m long and 4 m wide. A square carpet of side 3 m is placed on it. Find the area not covered by carpet.

Area of floor = 5 × 4 = 20 sq m
Area of carpet = 3 × 3 = 9 sq m

Area not covered = 20 - 9
= 11 sq m

Answer: 11 sq m is not covered by carpet.

Example 5: Cost of Fencing a Park

A rectangular park is 150 m long and 120 m wide. Fencing costs ₹40 per metre. Find the total cost.

Perimeter = 2 × (150 + 120)
= 2 × 270
= 540 m

Cost = 540 × 40
= ₹21,600

Answer: The total cost is ₹21,600.

Estimating Area Using Grid Paper

Irregular shapes may not have a simple formula. Their area can be estimated using squared paper or graph paper.

Each small square is usually taken as 1 square unit.

Rules for Estimating Area

Situation What to Do
Full square inside shape Count as 1 square unit
More than half square Count as 1 square unit
Less than half square Ignore it
Exactly half square Count as 1/2 square unit

This method helps estimate the area of leaves, irregular paper shapes, maps and other closed figures.

Perimeter and Area of Combined Shapes

Some figures are made by joining rectangles, squares or triangles.

To find area:

  1. Split the figure into known shapes.
  2. Find the area of each part.
  3. Add the areas.

To find perimeter:

  1. Trace the outside boundary only.
  2. Add the lengths of outer sides.
  3. Do not add inside lines.

Important Point

Two figures can have the same area but different perimeters.

Two figures can also have the same perimeter but different areas.

For example, 9 unit squares can be arranged in different shapes. Each shape has the same area of 9 square units, but the perimeter can change.

Area of a Triangle from a Rectangle

A rectangle can be cut into two equal triangles using a diagonal.

Each triangle has half the area of the rectangle.

So:

Area of one triangle = Half of rectangle area

If the rectangle has length 10 cm and breadth 6 cm:

Area of rectangle = 10 × 6 = 60 sq cm

Area of one triangle = 60 ÷ 2 = 30 sq cm

This idea helps students understand the formula:

Area of triangle = 1/2 × base × height

Important Topics of Class 6 Chapter 6 Maths You Shouldn’t Miss

1. Understanding Perimeter

Students should know that perimeter means total boundary length.

This idea is useful in fencing, running tracks and borders.

2. Perimeter Formulas

Students should revise the formulas for rectangles, squares, triangles and regular polygons.

These formulas are used in many word problems.

3. Understanding Area

Area means the region enclosed by a closed figure.

It is used in questions on floors, carpets, fields, walls and gardens.

4. Area Formulas

Students should revise the formulas for the area of rectangles, squares and triangles.

Formula selection is very important.

5. Units of Measurement

Perimeter uses linear units.

Area uses square units.

This difference should be remembered while writing final answers.

6. Real-Life Word Problems

Most questions in this chapter are based on real-life situations.

Students should practise problems on fencing, carpeting, tiling, flower beds, running tracks and land measurement.

Importance of Maths Chapter 6 Perimeter and Area Class 6 Notes

Class 6 Maths Chapter 6 Perimeter and Area is important because it connects geometry with real-life measurement.

Students learn how to calculate the distance around a shape and the space inside it. These ideas are used in construction, design, farming, sports tracks, flooring and decoration.

The chapter also builds the base for higher geometry topics. In later classes, students use perimeter and area while studying triangles, quadrilaterals, circles, surface area and mensuration.

Tips for Learning Class 6 Maths Chapter 6 Perimeter and Area

Understand the Difference First

Before memorising formulas, understand the difference between boundary and surface.

Boundary means perimeter.
Surface means area.

Draw the Shape

Always draw a rough figure and label the given sides.

This helps avoid confusion in word problems.

Write the Formula Before Solving

Do not directly start calculation.

Write the formula first, then put the values.

Check the Units

Use cm, m or km for perimeter.

Use sq cm, sq m or sq km for area.

Practise Real-Life Questions

Solve questions based on gardens, fields, rooms, carpets, tiles, ropes and fences.

These questions help students apply formulas better.

Use Grid Paper for Irregular Shapes

For irregular shapes, count full squares, half squares and more-than-half squares carefully.

This improves visual understanding of area.

Conclusion

CBSE Class 6 Maths Revision Notes Chapter 6 help students revise the core ideas of Perimeter and Area. Perimeter measures the boundary of a shape, while area measures the region inside it. By learning formulas, units and real-life uses, students can solve word problems on rectangles, squares, triangles, fields, floors and gardens with more confidence.

Useful Links for Class 6 Maths

Section Useful Links
Syllabus CBSE Class 6 Maths Syllabus
Revision Notes CBSE Class 6 Maths Revision Notes
Maths Notes CBSE Class 6 Maths Revision Notes Chapter 1
NCERT Solutions NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Maths
Sample Papers CBSE Sample Papers for Class 6 Maths
Important Questions Important Questions Class 6 Maths
NCERT Books NCERT Books for Class 6 Maths
Class 6 Support CBSE Class 6 Syllabus

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

The key concepts are perimeter, area, perimeter of rectangles, squares, triangles and regular polygons, area of rectangles, squares and triangles, square units, grid-based area estimation and word problems.

Perimeter means the boundary around a shape. Area means the space inside a shape. Fencing uses perimeter, while carpeting or tiling uses area.

Important formulas include perimeter of rectangle = 2 × (l + b), perimeter of square = 4 × side, area of rectangle = l × b, area of square = side × side and area of triangle = 1/2 × base × height.

Units show what has been measured. Perimeter is measured in linear units such as cm or m. Area is measured in square units such as sq cm or sq m.

Revision notes help students identify whether a question needs perimeter or area. They also provide formulas, examples and steps, making it easier to solve real-life word problems.