Year 4 Maths — Area by counting squares

Measure the area of a shape on squared paper by counting the squares it covers, including half squares.

Name: ________________________

Before you start

Three shapes sit on the same grid of squares. Count the squares under each one and compare what you find with how big each shape looks.

Shape B is the tallest and Shape C is the widest, but neither of those is what decides the area — only the count of squares does.

1.Two shapes look completely different, but each covers 12 squares. What can you say about them?
- a) You cannot compare their areas
- b) Their areas are the same
- c) The taller one has the larger area
- d) The wider one has the larger area
2.A rectangle on squared paper is 9 squares across and 5 squares down. How many squares does it cover?
3.Match each rectangle to the number of squares it covers.
- 2 across and 3 down
- 3 across and 3 down
- 4 across and 5 down
- 6 across and 6 down
- 9
- 36
- 20
- 6
4.A rectangle on squared paper is 7 squares across and 4 squares down. How many squares does it cover?
5.A shape drawn on squared paper covers 8 full squares in its upper part and 6 full squares in its lower part. What is its area, in squares?
6.An L-shape is made of a rectangle 5 squares by 3 squares joined to a rectangle 2 squares by 2 squares. How many squares does it cover altogether?
7.A rectangle covers 24 squares and is 6 squares across. How many squares tall is it?
8.Which rectangle covers the most squares?
- a) 2 across and 8 down
- b) 3 across and 6 down
- c) 4 across and 4 down
- d) 5 across and 3 down

1. b) Their areas are the same
2. 45
3. 2 across and 3 down → 6; 3 across and 3 down → 9; 4 across and 5 down → 20; 6 across and 6 down → 36
4. 28
5. 14
6. 19
7. 4
8. b) 3 across and 6 down