rectangular

Everyday

1. Rectangular means shaped like a rectangle, with four straight sides and square corners. tree →
2. A rectangular box or room (a cuboid, or rectangular prism) has rectangle faces. tree →

In the lessons

In maths: describes a field, garden, room, box or pool with length and width; leads to area, perimeter or volume; rectangular prism. In everyday life: rectangular tables, rugs, swimming pools, envelopes. In science: crystals and bricks with rectangular faces.

Examples

• A rectangular garden is 12 m long and 7 m wide. tree →
• How much fence goes around the rectangular field? tree →
• A rectangular box is 4 by 3 by 2 inches. tree →
• The rectangular pool has an area of 50 square meters. tree →
• Our classroom has rectangular tables. tree →
• A brick is a rectangular block. tree →
• A shoebox is a rectangular prism. tree →
• The envelope is rectangular, not square. tree →

Note

Tells you to use length and width (and height for a box). Fence goes around (perimeter), carpet or grass covers (area), water fills (volume = length × width × height). Trap: picking the wrong one of these. A rectangular prism has 6 faces, 12 edges and 8 corners (vertices).