Same Area, Different Shapes: Biscuit's Playpens
Millie is building playpens for Biscuit in the backyard out of soft square play mats, each 1 m on every side. She uses the same 12 mats every time but lays them out in different rectangles. Does the fence around them stay the same?
Remember: Shapes with the same area can have different perimeters. 12 mats as 3 rows of 4 need 14 m of fence. The same 12 mats as 2 rows of 6 need 16 m.
Magic trick: The more square a rectangle is, the less fence it needs. Long, thin shapes need the most fence.
Seek and Find
Look carefully at the picture of Biscuit’s Playpens and find:
- 🟪 Find the pink and mint play area. 3 rows of 4 mats: 12 square m, and 3 + 4 + 3 + 4 = 14 m of fence.
- 🟨 Find the lavender and yellow play area. 2 rows of 6 mats: also 12 square m, but 2 + 6 + 2 + 6 = 16 m of fence!
- 🟧 Find the long thin path of mats. 1 row of 6 mats: only 6 square m, yet 1 + 6 + 1 + 6 = 14 m around it.
- 🐱 Millie and her kitten Biscuit are hiding in every picture. Can you spot them?