Step-by-step Maths Level 1: Names of flat shapes
Part of the Step-by-step Maths Level 1 shapes chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Names of flat shapes
Flat shapes are called 2-D shapes. The four you need first are:
a circle (round), a square (four equal sides), a triangle (three sides) and a rectangle (four sides, two long and two short).
Key ideas
- A circle is round, with no corners.
- A square has four equal sides.
- A triangle has three sides.
- A rectangle has four sides. Two sides are longer than the other two.
- A shape stays the same when it is turned.
Method. Look at the outline. Count the sides.
- Look at the outline. It has four straight sides and four corners.4 sides
- Check it is equal. The four sides are the same length, so it is a square.all sides equal
- Write the name. square
Check. It is a square even though it is turned round.
Watch out. A square turned on its corner is still a square.
Method. Count the sides and corners.
- Count the sides. It has three straight sides.3 sides
- Count the corners. It has three corners.3 corners
- Write the name. triangle
Check. Three sides and three corners make a triangle.
Watch out. Count the sides, not the points at the top.
Method. Look at the outline. Is it round?
- Look at the outline. It is round all the way round.no straight sides
- Check for corners. It has no corners.no corners
- Write the name. circle
Check. A circle is round and has no corners.
Watch out. A circle has no straight sides at all.
Watch out
Watch out. A rectangle can look like a square. Check whether all four sides are the same length.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Look for these shapes at home: a plate (circle), a book (rectangle), a tile (square) and a slice of pizza (triangle). Ask: “How many sides?”
Exercise 10A Names of flat shapes
Non-calculatorMethod. Look at the shape. Count its sides and corners, then match it to a name.
- Look at the outline. It has 4 corners.square
- Check the sides. It has 4 equal sides.4 equal sides
- Write the name. square
Check. A square has 4 corners and 4 equal sides. ✓
Watch out. Turned shapes are still the same shape. A square turned on its corner is still a square.
Method. Look at the shape. Count its sides and corners, then match it to a name.
- Look at the outline. It has 3 corners.triangle
- Check the sides. It has 3 sides.3 sides
- Write the name. triangle
Check. A triangle has 3 corners and 3 sides. ✓
Watch out. Turned shapes are still the same shape. A square turned on its corner is still a square.
Method. Look at the shape. Count its sides and corners, then match it to a name.
- Look at the outline. It has 3 corners.triangle
- Check the sides. It has 3 sides.3 sides
- Write the name. triangle
Check. A triangle has 3 corners and 3 sides. ✓
Watch out. Turned shapes are still the same shape. A square turned on its corner is still a square.
Method. Look at the shape. Count its sides and corners, then match it to a name.
- Look at the outline. It has 4 corners.square
- Check the sides. It has 4 equal sides.4 equal sides
- Write the name. square
Check. A square has 4 corners and 4 equal sides. ✓
Watch out. Turned shapes are still the same shape. A square turned on its corner is still a square.
Method. Look at the shape. Count its sides and corners, then match it to a name.
- Look at the outline. It has 3 corners.triangle
- Check the sides. It has 3 sides.3 sides
- Write the name. triangle
Check. A triangle has 3 corners and 3 sides. ✓
Watch out. Turned shapes are still the same shape. A square turned on its corner is still a square.
Method. Look at the shape. Count its sides and corners, then match it to a name.
- Look at the outline. It has 4 corners.square
- Check the sides. It has 4 equal sides.4 equal sides
- Write the name. square
Check. A square has 4 corners and 4 equal sides. ✓
Watch out. Turned shapes are still the same shape. A square turned on its corner is still a square.
Method. Look at the shape. Count its sides and corners, then match it to a name.
- Look at the outline. It is round all the way round.circle
- Check the sides. It has no straight sides.no straight sides
- Write the name. circle
Check. A circle has no corners and no straight sides. ✓
Watch out. Turned shapes are still the same shape. A square turned on its corner is still a square.
Method. Look at the shape. Count its sides and corners, then match it to a name.
- Look at the outline. It has 4 corners.rectangle
- Check the sides. It has 2 long sides and 2 short sides.2 long sides and 2 short sides
- Write the name. rectangle
Check. A rectangle has 4 corners and 2 long sides and 2 short sides. ✓
Watch out. Turned shapes are still the same shape. A square turned on its corner is still a square.
Method. Look at the shape. Count its sides and corners, then match it to a name.
- Look at the outline. It has 3 corners.triangle
- Check the sides. It has 3 sides.3 sides
- Write the name. triangle
Check. A triangle has 3 corners and 3 sides. ✓
Watch out. Turned shapes are still the same shape. A square turned on its corner is still a square.
Method. Look at the shape. Count its sides and corners, then match it to a name.
- Look at the outline. It has 4 corners.rectangle
- Check the sides. It has 2 long sides and 2 short sides.2 long sides and 2 short sides
- Write the name. rectangle
Check. A rectangle has 4 corners and 2 long sides and 2 short sides. ✓
Watch out. Turned shapes are still the same shape. A square turned on its corner is still a square.
Method. Look at the shape. Count its sides and corners, then match it to a name.
- Look at the outline. It is round all the way round.circle
- Check the sides. It has no straight sides.no straight sides
- Write the name. circle
Check. A circle has no corners and no straight sides. ✓
Watch out. Turned shapes are still the same shape. A square turned on its corner is still a square.
Method. Look at the shape. Count its sides and corners, then match it to a name.
- Look at the outline. It has 4 corners.square
- Check the sides. It has 4 equal sides.4 equal sides
- Write the name. square
Check. A square has 4 corners and 4 equal sides. ✓
Watch out. Turned shapes are still the same shape. A square turned on its corner is still a square.
Method. Look at the shape. Count its sides and corners, then match it to a name.
- Look at the outline. It has 4 corners.square
- Check the sides. It has 4 equal sides.4 equal sides
- Write the name. square
Check. A square has 4 corners and 4 equal sides. ✓
Watch out. Turned shapes are still the same shape. A square turned on its corner is still a square.
Method. Look at the shape. Count its sides and corners, then match it to a name.
- Look at the outline. It has 4 corners.rectangle
- Check the sides. It has 2 long sides and 2 short sides.2 long sides and 2 short sides
- Write the name. rectangle
Check. A rectangle has 4 corners and 2 long sides and 2 short sides. ✓
Watch out. Turned shapes are still the same shape. A square turned on its corner is still a square.
Method. Look at the shape. Count its sides and corners, then match it to a name.
- Look at the outline. It has 3 corners.triangle
- Check the sides. It has 3 sides.3 sides
- Write the name. triangle
Check. A triangle has 3 corners and 3 sides. ✓
Watch out. Turned shapes are still the same shape. A square turned on its corner is still a square.
Method. Look at the shape. Count its sides and corners, then match it to a name.
- Look at the outline. It has 4 corners.rectangle
- Check the sides. It has 2 long sides and 2 short sides.2 long sides and 2 short sides
- Write the name. rectangle
Check. A rectangle has 4 corners and 2 long sides and 2 short sides. ✓
Watch out. Turned shapes are still the same shape. A square turned on its corner is still a square.