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Area and perimeter

Area and perimeter for GCSE Biology AQA: what it means, how to set the working out, and the questions it is asked in.
  • GCSE
  • AQA
  • Biology
  • Spec A20
  • 8 min read
  • 10 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.
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.
5 rows

The area and perimeter reference table

Check the answer against an estimate before you move on, so a place-value slip is caught here.
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.
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
Row 3 column 1
Row 3 column 2
≈160\approx 160
Row 3 column 4
Row 3 column 5
Row 4 column 1
Row 4 column 2
49=7\sqrt{49} = 7
Row 4 column 4
Row 4 column 5

Learning

6 boxes
5 steps

How to work with area and perimeter

Read the units in the question before you start; a converted unit is the most common slip.
Worth knowing: ×10\times 10 moves every digit one column left.
  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: ×10\times 10 moves every digit one column left.
Answer: a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2
3 rules

Key facts: Area and perimeter

The specification wording is precise here, and the mark scheme follows that wording exactly.
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: a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2.

  • Rule 1

    How area and perimeter behaves in the 1st of the cases the specification names.
    ≈160\approx 160

  • Rule 2

    How area and perimeter behaves in the 2nd of the cases the specification names.
    ×10\times 10 moves every digit one column left

  • Rule 3

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

How to work with area and perimeter

Work through the method one line at a time and write down what changes at each step.
  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.
  4. Check the answer against an estimate before writing it down.
Start from the definition and substitute the numbers the question gives you.
Simplify one line at a time: 34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}.
Answer: a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2
2 rules

Key facts: Area and perimeter

Check the answer against an estimate before you move on, so a place-value slip is caught here.
Worth knowing: a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2.

  • Rule 1

    How area and perimeter behaves in the 1st of the cases the specification names.
    49=7\sqrt{49} = 7

  • 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
4 steps

How to work with area and perimeter

Read the units in the question before you start; a converted unit is the most common slip.
Worth knowing: x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0.
  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: x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0.
Answer: x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0
3 rules

Key facts: Area and perimeter

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

  • 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.
    ≈160\approx 160

  • Rule 3

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

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Examples

2 boxes
1 marks · worked

Worked example: area and perimeter

Work through the method one line at a time and write down what changes at each step.
1 marks · worked

Practice question 10: 49=7\sqrt{49} = 7

Check the answer against an estimate before you move on, so a place-value slip is caught here.
Worth knowing: x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0.

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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 GCSE Biology AQA paper?
Yes — it sits in the Causes and consequences strand.