Grade 8 ↓
Mensuration
Measurement is a branch of mathematics that deals with the measurement of geometric shapes and figures. It involves calculating length, area, and volume. Measurement is a very practical subject as it helps us understand and figure out measurements in real life. Whenever you want to know how much space a room has, or how much water a tank can hold, you are using measurement.
Basic terms and concepts
Before we delve deeper into the different shapes and their measurements, it is important to understand some basic terms and concepts:
- Perimeter: The perimeter is the total length around a shape. For example, if you have a fence around your garden, the length of that fence is the perimeter.
- Area: Area is the space that a shape covers. This is especially useful for things like flooring or painting, where you want to know how much material is needed to cover the surface.
- Volume: Volume is the space that a 3-dimensional object contains. It is useful in understanding how much an object can contain, such as water in a tank or air in a balloon.
Perimeter of common shapes
The perimeter is the distance around a two-dimensional shape. Let's take a look at some common shapes:
Perimeter of a square
A square has four equal sides. If the length of one side is s
, then the perimeter P of the square is given by:
P = 4 × s
For example, if each side of the square is 5 cm, then the perimeter is:
P = 4 × 5 = 20 cm
Perimeter of a rectangle
The opposite sides of a rectangle are equal. If the length is l
and the width is w
, then the perimeter P is:
P = 2 × (l + w)
If the length is 8 cm and breadth is 3 cm, then the perimeter is:
P = 2 × (8 + 3) = 2 × 11 = 22 cm
Area of common shapes
Area of a square
The area of a square with side length s
is:
A = s²
If each side of the square is 5 cm, then the area is:
A = 5² = 25 cm²
Area of a rectangle
The area of a rectangle of length l
and width w
is:
A = l × w
If the length is 8 cm and breadth is 3 cm, then the area is:
A = 8 × 3 = 24 cm²
Volume of 3D shapes
Volume is the measure of the space occupied by a three-dimensional object.
Volume of a cube
A cube has six square faces of equal size. If the side length of each square is s
, then the volume V of the cube is:
V = s³
For example, if each side of the cube is 4 cm, then the volume is:
V = 4³ = 64 cm³
Volume of a rectangular prism
A rectangular prism is like a rectangle with a depth of 1. If the length is l
, the width is w
, and the height is h
, then the volume V is:
V = l × w × h
If the length is 6 cm, breadth 3 cm and height 2 cm, then the volume is:
V = 6 × 3 × 2 = 36 cm³
Circle measurement
Circumference of a circle
The circumference is the distance around a circle. If the radius is r
, then the circumference C is:
C = 2 × π × r
If the radius of the circle is 7 cm, then the circumference is approximately:
C = 2 × 3.14 × 7 ≈ 43.96 cm
Area of a circle
The area of a circle of radius r
is:
A = π × r²
If the radius is 7 cm, the area is approximately:
A = 3.14 × 7² ≈ 153.86 cm²
Practical applications of mensuration
Measurement is extremely useful in everyday life. Whether you are calculating the amount of wrapping paper needed for a gift or determining the paint needed for a wall, measurement comes in handy.
Wall painting
Imagine you want to paint a wall 10 meters long and 3 meters high. To find out how much paint you need, you first calculate the area of the wall:
A = l × h = 10 × 3 = 30 meters²
Now, knowing the area, you can decide how much paint you need to buy based on the paint coverage specifications. If one can of paint covers 5 m², you will need:
Number of paint cans = Area / Coverage per can = 30 / 5 = 6 cans
Garden fence
You want to fence around a rectangular garden that is 20 m long and 15 m wide. To find the required length of the fence, calculate the perimeter:
P = 2 × (l + w) = 2 × (20 + 15) = 2 × 35 = 70 meters
Conclusion
Measurement is an essential part of mathematics that allows us to understand the world in terms of length, area, and volume. From determining the amount of paint needed for a wall to estimating the amount of water in a swimming pool, understanding measurement can simplify many practical tasks. By mastering these concepts, you can solve real-world problems with confidence and accuracy.