A rectangle is a common, simple shape that has four sides and four 90-degree angles. The opposite sides of a rectangle are equal in length and parallel to each other. You might have to calculate the dimensions of a rectangle as an assignment in a math course ranging anywhere from upper elementary school through college. Being able to figure a rectangle's dimensions also is helpful for tasks such as building and landscaping projects.
Instructions
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1
Measure the sides of a rectangle with a ruler or a tape measure, depending on the size of the shape.
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2
Add the length of all four sides to find the perimeter of the rectangle. If the rectangle happens to be a square, you can simply multiply the length of one side times four.
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3
Multiply the length times the width of a rectangle to calculate its area.
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4
Divide the area in inches by 144 if you want to find the square footage of a rectangle.