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Area and perimeter

Area and perimeter for Functional Skills Business Studies: what it means, how to set the working out, and the questions it is asked in.
  • Functional Skills
  • Business Studies
  • Spec A18
  • 5 min read
  • 8 revision boxes

Introduction

2 boxes
1 min read

What is area and perimeter?

Listen to this box

Transcript

A short spoken summary of area and perimeter and where it is used.

A spoken walk-through of area and perimeter before you read the notes.
Practise the routine version until it is automatic, then move to the multi-step questions.
Worth knowing: a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2.
5 rows

The area and perimeter reference table

Sketch the shape even when the question does not ask for one — it makes the next step obvious.
Worth knowing: x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0.
Term
Meaning
Example
Common slip
Marks
Row 1 column 1
Row 1 column 2
a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2
Row 1 column 4
Row 1 column 5
Row 2 column 1
Row 2 column 2
49=7\sqrt{49} = 7
Row 2 column 4
Row 2 column 5

Learning

4 boxes
3 steps

How to work with area and perimeter

This idea appears again in the higher-mark questions, so it is worth over-learning.
The layout below is the one the mark scheme expects.

Diagram showing area and perimeter laid out step by step

The same idea drawn out, so the method is visible.
Worth knowing: ≈160\approx 160.
  1. Read the question and write down what is being asked for.
  2. Set out the working for area and perimeter in the order the method gives.
  3. Substitute the values and simplify.
Start from the definition and substitute the numbers the question gives you.
Simplify one line at a time: 49=7\sqrt{49} = 7.
Answer: a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2
3 rules

Key facts: Area and perimeter

The examiner marks the working, so a correct answer with no method still drops marks.
The layout below is the one the mark scheme expects.

Diagram showing area and perimeter laid out step by step

The same idea drawn out, so the method is visible.
Worth knowing: ×10\times 10 moves every digit one column left.

  • Rule 1

    How area and perimeter behaves in the 1st of the cases the specification names.
    34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}

  • Rule 2

    How area and perimeter behaves in the 2nd of the cases the specification names.
    x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0

  • Rule 3

    How area and perimeter behaves in the 3rd of the cases the specification names.
    ×10\times 10 moves every digit one column left
3 steps

How to work with area and perimeter

Practise the routine version until it is automatic, then move to the multi-step questions.
Worth knowing: ≈160\approx 160.
  1. Read the question and write down what is being asked for.
  2. Set out the working for area and perimeter in the order the method gives.
  3. Substitute the values and simplify.
Start from the definition and substitute the numbers the question gives you.
Simplify one line at a time: a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2.
Answer: ≈160\approx 160
2 rules

Key facts: Area and perimeter

Sketch the shape even when the question does not ask for one — it makes the next step obvious.
Worth knowing: 49=7\sqrt{49} = 7.

  • Rule 1

    How area and perimeter behaves in the 1st of the cases the specification names.
    x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0

  • Rule 2

    How area and perimeter behaves in the 2nd of the cases the specification names.
    x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0

  • Rule 3

    How area and perimeter behaves in the 3rd of the cases the specification names.
    x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0

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Examples

2 boxes
4 marks · worked

Worked example: area and perimeter

Work through the method one line at a time and write down what changes at each step.
The layout below is the one the mark scheme expects.

Diagram showing area and perimeter laid out step by step

The same idea drawn out, so the method is visible.
2 marks · worked

Practice question 8: a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2

The specification wording is precise here, and the mark scheme follows that wording exactly.

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Common questions

How many marks is area and perimeter usually worth?
Between one and four, depending on how many steps the question asks for.
Is this on the Functional Skills Business Studies paper?
Yes — it sits in the Causes and consequences strand.