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Find perimeter of polygons

Perimeter is the total distance around a closed polygon, found by adding the lengths of all its sides and expressing the result in linear units. This includes regular and irregular polygons, rectangles, and polygons with an unknown side determined from given information; side lengths must be measured in compatible units, and perimeter must not be confused with area. Generalized algebraic formulas and more complex fractional or decimal cases are beyond this scope.

Detailed Explanation: Find perimeter of polygons

The perimeter is the total distance around a closed shape. To find it:

  1. Identify every side of the polygon.
  2. Make sure all side lengths use the same unit.
  3. Add the lengths of all the sides.
  4. Write the answer in linear units, such as centimeters or meters.

Example: Find the perimeter of this pentagon. Its side lengths are (6 cm)(6\text{ cm}), (4 cm)(4\text{ cm}), (5 cm)(5\text{ cm}), (3 cm)(3\text{ cm}), and (7 cm)(7\text{ cm}).

Add every side:

6+4+5+3+7=256+4+5+3+7=25

Therefore, the perimeter is:

25 cm\boxed{25\text{ cm}}

Remember, perimeter measures the distance around a shape, so the answer uses units like centimeters—not square centimeters, which are used for area.

Learn by doing: Find perimeter of polygons

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