How do you figure area?

The area of any simple shape, such as a circle, triangle or rectangle, can be found by taking a series of measurements from the shape and plugging them into a formula. The necessary formula varies according to the shape but works for all shapes of that type.

1. Take measurements

   Measure the dimensions of the shape. For example, finding the area of a triangle requires the width of the base and the vertical height, whereas finding the area of a circle requires the length of the radius.

2. Find the right formula

   Using a math textbook or Internet search, obtain the correct formula for finding the area of the specific shape. Put the measurements into the appropriate formula.

3. Solve for the area

   Use the formula to calculate the area of the shape.