The Polygon Perimeter Puzzle
Explore the concept of perimeter in a hands-on way! Your goal is to build a shape with a specific perimeter using the tiles provided.
Help & Instructions
â–¼- **Target Perimeter:** Your goal is to build a shape on the grid with the specified target perimeter.
- **Drag & Drop:** Drag the tiles from the bank below onto the grid. Tiles must be placed adjacent to other tiles to form a single shape.
- **Calculate:** The game automatically calculates the perimeter of your connected shape as you build.
- **Check:** Click "Check Perimeter" to see if your solution is correct.
- Understand and calculate the perimeter of composite shapes.
- Develop spatial reasoning and problem-solving skills.
- Discover that different shapes can have the same perimeter.
Your goal is a perimeter of 22 units. Use all 7 tiles.
Current Perimeter: 0 units
The **perimeter** of a shape is the total distance around its boundary. It's a fundamental concept in geometry, distinct from **area**. This game highlights how the perimeter of a composite shape is found by summing the lengths of all its exposed sides.
The Mathematics Behind the Puzzles
The perimeter of a composite shape is not simply the sum of the perimeters of its individual components. When two tiles are placed side-by-side, the sides they share are no longer part of the outer boundary, and thus are not counted in the total perimeter. The puzzle requires careful calculation of the exposed sides of the combined shape.
Understanding perimeter is crucial in:
- **Construction:** Calculating the length of fencing, molding, or trim needed for a project.
- **Landscaping:** Determining the amount of material needed to outline a garden bed or walkway.
- **Architecture:** Planning the dimensions of rooms and buildings.
