2D Shapes with Matchsticks
Exploring Perimeter and Simple Geometry
Discover how to create different 2D shapes using matchsticks and learn about their properties. Explore how the perimeter changes with different shapes while using the same number of matchsticks!
Square
Perimeter: 4 matchsticks
Observation:
A square has 4 equal sides and 4 right angles. All matchsticks are of equal length.
The Math Behind Shapes and Perimeter
Key Concepts:
Perimeter is the total length around a 2D shape. With matchsticks:
- Square: 4 equal sides, perimeter = 4 × matchstick length
- Triangle: 3 sides, perimeter = 3 × matchstick length
- Rectangle: 4 sides (2 pairs of equal length), perimeter = sum of all sides
- Regular Polygons: All sides equal, perimeter = number of sides × matchstick length
Interesting Fact:
With the same number of matchsticks, you can create different shapes with different areas. For example, a square made with 4 matchsticks will have a larger area than a rectangle made with the same 4 matchsticks.
