Learning Shapes
Dive into articles that turn math struggles into successes with engaging content crafted to boost kids’ math skills.
The world around us is made up of so many shapes and sizes, right? That’s why it’s so important to understand how to identify shapes, figure out how big they are, and more. DoodleMath has the resources you need to master your shapes and build a successful base for more challenging subjects like geometry and calculus later on.
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A triangle is one of the most important shapes in mathematics – Learning about triangles builds the foundation for more challenging subjects like geometry and trigonometry.
A hexagon has six sides – They are two-dimensional closed figures, and they can be oddly shaped, so long as their sides add up to six.
A rectangle is a four-sided closed shape with equal parallel sides – A square is always a rectangle, but a rectangle is not always a square!
An octagon is a shape with 8 eight sides – It’s actually a type of polygon, which is typically a shape with at least three sides.
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Practice makes perfect. Work through practice problems or use our guides to refresh your mind and master your shapes!
Circles are round shapes without any points, straight lines or angles – They don’t have to be perfectly round, though.
A triangle is one of the most important shapes in mathematics – Learning about triangles builds the foundation for more challenging subjects like geometry and trigonometry.
Squares have four equal sides and four equal angles – These regular polygons are two-dimensional enclosed figures.
A hexagon has six sides – They are two-dimensional closed figures, and they can be oddly shaped, so long as their sides add up to six.
Pentagons are 5-sided polygons – “Penta” means “five,” so it’s easy to remember how many sides you’re dealing with when you see the word “pentagon.”
A rectangle is a four-sided closed shape with equal parallel sides – A square is always a rectangle, but a rectangle is not always a square!
An octagon is a shape with 8 eight sides – It’s actually a type of polygon, which is typically a shape with at least three sides.
There are different types – A quadrilateral isn’t its own shape, but rather a family of shapes including squares, rectangles, and kites that all share the same properties.
A rhombus has four sides – They are 2-D shapes that have all four sides of the same length.
All 3D shapes have faces, edges, and vertices. However, spheres, cylinders, and hemispheres are exceptions to this rule.
FAQs About Shapes
The four main shapes are circles, triangles, squares, and rectangles. Of course, there are shapes outside of these, including three-dimensional shapes like spheres, cones, and cubes, but these are considered the four main shapes.
You might think it’s one of the four main shapes, but the most common shape in nature is actually the hexagon. Beehives, insect eyes, snowflakes and more are all made up of hexagons, which fit together seamlessly.
The golden spiral is a geometric shape that resembles a snail shell and that perfectly captures the Fibonacci sequence. The Fibonacci sequence is a sequence where each number in the sequence is equal to the sum of the two numbers preceding it, so: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, etc.
Perimeter is the measure of the outside of a shape, which you can get when you add together the lengths of each of its sides. The area is the inside of a shape. Each shape has its own area equation.
Grades:
If you’ve ever wondered how to help your 3rd grader with math homework or what your child should know by the end of fifth grade, these elementary math resources are for you. Choose a grade level below to browse math skills and objectives by grade.
