# Perimeter and Area of a Rectangle

Here we will discuss about the perimeter and area of a rectangle and some of its geometrical properties.

Perimeter of a rectangle (P) = 2(length + breadth) = 2(l + b)

Area of a rectangle (A) = length × breadth = l × b

Diagonal of a rectangle (d) = $$\sqrt{(\textrm{length})^{2}+(\textrm{breadth})^{2}}$$

= $$\sqrt{\textrm{l}^{2}+\textrm{b}^{2}}$$

Length of a rectangle (l) = $$\frac{\textrm{area}}{\textrm{breadth}} = \frac{A}{b}$$

Breadth of a rectangle (b) = $$\frac{\textrm{area}}{\textrm{length}} = \frac{A}{l}$$

Some geometrical properties of a rectangle:

In the rectangle PQRS,

PQ = SR, PS = QR, QS = PR;

OP = OR = OQ = OD;

∠PSC = ∠QRS = ∠RQP = ∠qps = 90°.

Also, PR2 = PS2 + SR2; [by Pythagoras’ theorem)

and QS2 = QR2 + SR2; [by Pythagoras’ theorem)

Area of the ∆PQR = Area of the ∆PSQ = Area of the ∆QRS = Are of the ∆PSR

= $$\frac{1}{2}$$ (Area of the rectangle PQRS).

Solved Examples on Perimeter and Area of a Rectangle:

1. The area of a rectangle whose sides are in the ratio 4:3 is 96 cm$$^{2}$$. What is the perimeter of the square whose each side is equal in length to the diagonal of the rectangle?

Solution:

As the sides og the rectangle are in the ratio 4:3, let the sides be 4x and 3x respectively.

Then, the area of the rectangle = 4x ∙ 3x = 96 cm$$^{2}$$

Therefore, 12x$$^{2}$$ = 96 cm$$^{2}$$

or, x$$^{2}$$ = 8 cm$$^{2}$$

Therefore, x = 2√2 cm

Now, the length of a diagonal of the square = $$\sqrt{(4x)^{2} + (3x)^{2}}$$

= $$\sqrt{25x^{2}}$$

= 5x

Therefore, the perimeter of the square = 4 × side

= 4 × 5x

= 20x

= 20 × 2√2 cm

= 40√2 cm

= 40 × 1.41 cm

= 56.4 cm