What is the difference between circumference and perimeter?
A The circumference relates only to shapes with angles, while the perimeter relates only to circles.
B The perimeter represents one-half of the circumference is never larger than the perimeter.
C The perimeter relates to all shape, while the circumference relates only to circles.
D The circumference is never large than the perimeter.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is:
C: The perimeter relates to all shapes, while the circumference relates only to circles.
Explanation:
The terms perimeter and circumference both refer to the measurement around the boundary of a shape, but they are used in different contexts depending on the shape being described.
- Perimeter is the total length of the boundary of any polygon, such as a square, rectangle, triangle, or irregular shape. It applies to all shapes, including those with angles. To calculate the perimeter of a polygon, you simply add up the lengths of all its sides. For example, if you have a rectangle with lengths of 5 meters and 3 meters, the perimeter would be calculated as: P=2×(5+3)=16 metersP = 2 \times (5 + 3) = 16 \text{ meters} The perimeter can be calculated for any closed shape with straight edges.
- Circumference, on the other hand, specifically refers to the boundary length of a circle. The formula for the circumference of a circle is: C=2πrC = 2\pi r where r is the radius of the circle. The circumference is essentially the perimeter of a circle, but the term is reserved for circular shapes.
While both perimeter and circumference describe the distance around a shape, perimeter is the general term for polygons, and circumference is used exclusively for circles. Therefore, the correct distinction is that the perimeter applies to all shapes, while the circumference applies only to circles.
In summary, the main difference is based on the type of shape: perimeter is a more general term used for all closed shapes, and circumference is the specific term for the length around a circle.