Finding Perimeter

Suggested Book to Use:

Burns, M. (1997). Spaghetti and Meatballs for All! New York,
NY: Scholastic Press.

Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,

Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
 Mr. and Mrs. Comfort invited
30 people to the reunion.
So, there will be 32
people eating dinner.

If there are 4 people at each

table, how many tables and
chairs should they rent?
Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,
Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
32  4 = 8 tables

Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,

Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
Mr. and Mrs. Comfort rented
32 chairs and 8 tables!

Oh, no! We’re

Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland, missing a chair!
Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
Mrs. Comfort’s Seating
Arrangement is…
8 tables with 4
chairs at each
table
Each table’s
length is 1 unit,
and each table’s
width is 1 unit.

Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,

Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
 1 Unit

Perimeter:
1 Unit 1 Unit
1+1+1+1= 4 units

1 Unit

48 = 32
Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,
Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
And their company began to
arrive…

Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,

Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
How many chairs did we lose?
Why?

Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,

Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
We lost 2 chairs because our total
perimeter went from 8 units to 6
units.
The perimeter of
2 separate tables = 8 units.
4+4 = 8
So, the perimeter of
2 tables pushed together =
6 units.
1+2+1+2 = 6

1 1

2
Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,
Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
 6 more people arrived…
Now we have 12 total people.

Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,

Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
But… is this enough seats for 12
people?

Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,

Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
 No, because the total
perimeter is now 8 units.
So, 4 people do not have a
chair.
2

2 2
2+2+2+2 = 8

2Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,

Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
Are there enough seats for the 12 people
now?
Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,
Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
 2

3 3

3+2+3+2 = 10
Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,
Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
No, we need to push together 2 more
tables…

Now, all 12 people have a seat.

Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,
Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
 2

4 4

2
4+2+4+2 = 12
Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,
Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
The Comfort’s neighbors arrived with their 2 children…

Now we have 16 people!

But wait… We don’t have

enough seats!

Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,

Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
 The total perimeter of the 2 BIG tables
is now 16 units. All 16 people have a seat.

Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,

Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
 2 2

2 2 2 2

2 2

2+2+2+2 = 8 82 = 16

Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,

Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
Mr. Comfort’s mother and father arrive…

We now have 18
people!
Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,
Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
What is our new perimeter?

Are there enough seats for all 18 people?

Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,
Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
The new perimeter is 18 units.

All 18 people have a chair!

8
1 1

1+8+1+8= 18
Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,
Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
Mrs. Comfort’s mother and father arrive…

Now we have 20
people!
Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,
Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
Can you figure out the total
perimeter of our 2 tables?

The total perimeter is 20 units.

Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,

Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
 4
1 1
4

4
1 1
4

1+4+1+4 = 10 10  2 = 20
Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,
Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
4 more people arrived…

Now we have 24
people!
Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,
Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
So, what is our total Does everyone
perimeter? have a chair?

Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,

Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
 2 2

1 1 1 1

2 2

2 2

1 1 1 1

2 2

1+2+1+2 = 6 6  4 = 24
The total perimeter is
24. Everyone has a chair!
Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,
Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
 The final 8 guests
arrive…

Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,

Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
What must we do with
the tables in order for
all 32 people to have a
seat?
Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,
Owen at NCTM Conference 2006
 Move the
tables back
to Mrs.
Comfort’s
original plan!

What is the
total
perimeter?

Created/Edited by Eddy, McCasland,

Owen at NCTM Conference 2006