The area of any simple shape, such as a circle, triangle or rectangle, can be found by taking a series of measurements from the shape and plugging them into a formula. The necessary formula varies according to the shape but works for all shapes of that type.
- Take measurements
Measure the dimensions of the shape. For example, finding the area of a triangle requires the width of the base and the vertical height, whereas finding the area of a circle requires the length of the radius.
- Find the right formula
Using a math textbook or Internet search, obtain the correct formula for finding the area of the specific shape. Put the measurements into the appropriate formula.
- Solve for the area
Use the formula to calculate the area of the shape.
