What Are the Basic Shapes Definition Properties and Examples
A pizza is the most ‘shape-filled’ object you’ll ever come across. Coming in a square box, the pizza is a circle itself. Hold up, the best part is yet to come, the slices are triangular!
Let’s just say you’ll realise the epitome of shapes that pizzas are hereafter. Let’s jump right in to understand the basic shapes and their properties.
Pizza
Plane Figures and Their Features
Any shape that lies flat on one plane can be called a plane figure. Our good old squares, rectangles, triangles, and circles all come under plane figures.
These shapes have sides, corners, and angles.
Sides and Corners of a Triangle
Square
The basic shape we’re starting with is that of a square.
A square has the following features:
4 equal sides
4 corners are placed perpendicularly
4 right angles between the sides (remember the L)
Sides, Angles, and Diagonals of a Square
Square-shaped Object Around Us
Rectangle
A rectangle has the following features:
4 sides
Opposite sides are equal to each other
4 corners are placed perpendicularly
4 right angles are placed between the sides
Sides and Angles of a Rectangle
Rectangle-shaped Objects Around us
Triangle
The name says it all for a triangle.
3 sides (base and opposite sides)
3 corners or vertices
Diagonals are not possible in a triangle.
Triangles can be further classified as illustrated below.
Triangle
Types of Triangle
Circle
The circle is the hero of the show! No corners, no sides, no diagonals to deal with.
Features of the circle are as follows:
It is made up of curved lines with an origin
A diameter divides the circle into 2 equal halves ( it is the longest line that can be fit into it)
Half of a diameter is called the radius.
Parts of a Circle
Here O is the origin of the circle, line D is the diameter and R is the radius.
Circle-Shaped Objects Around us
Special Plane Figures
There are several other specialised plane figures that are one way or the other related to squares and rectangles. These are collectively known as quadrilaterals as they have 4 sides (quad meaning 4). Parallelogram, Trapezoid, Rhombus, and Kite fall under this category.
Special Plane Figures (Quadrilaterals)
Solid Figures and Their Features
Any shape that occupies space can be called a solid figure. Cubes, cuboids, prisms, cones, spheres, and cylinders fall under this category. These shapes have faces, edges, and vertices which give them their unique features. It is easier to remember solid figures as plane figures put together in all the possible dimensions. So, solid figures also have sides, corners, and angles.
Parts of a Solid Shape
Types of Solid Shapes
Cube
Cubes are made up of squares but in 3 dimensions.
All faces and sides of a cube are equal.
The edges are equal.
There are 6 faces, 12 edges, and 8 vertices in a cube.
Faces, Edges, and Vertices of a Cube
Cube-Shaped Objects Around us
Cuboid
Slightly modified cubes give us cuboids.
The opposite faces of a cuboid are equal.
Opposite edges are equal.
There are 6 faces, 12 edges, and 8 vertices in a cuboid.
Faces, Edges, and Vertices of a Cuboid
Cuboid-shaped Objects
Cone
Birthday parties are all about cones! Ice cream cones, birthday caps, and whatnot. This peculiar solid shape has the following properties
It has one curved surface and one flat surface.
It has one vertex and one curved edge.
Parts of a Cone
Cone-Shaped Objects
Cylinder
The cylinder is a huge stack of circles placed on top of the other. The properties of a cylinder are as follows:
Three surfaces
It has no vertex
2 curved edges are present
Parts of a Cylinder
Cylinder-shaped Objects
Sphere
A ball is the best example of a sphere. Properties of the sphere are as follows:
It has no edges or vertices.
It has one curved surface area.
Sphere
Spherical Objects Around Us
Practice Questions
Q1. ___________________ is a basic shape in which no diagonals are possible (Ans: Triangle)
Q2. _____________ sides are equal in a rectangle (Ans: opposite)
Q3. The longest line possible in a circle dividing the circle into 2 equal halves is called _______________ (Ans: diameter)
Summary
Basic shapes mainly are composed of plane figures and solid figures. Plane figures, also known as 2-dimensional shapes, lie on a single plane having length and breadth. Examples of plane figures include squares, rectangles, triangles, circles, and quadrilaterals.
Solid shapes include cubes, cuboids, cones, cylinders, and spheres having length, breadth, and height. These are also known as 3-dimensional objects as they occupy space. In common, all the basic shapes have faces, edges, vertices, corners, and angles and are of different types.
FAQs on Basic Shapes Names and Their Real Life Examples
1. What are the basic shapes in mathematics?
The basic shapes in mathematics are simple 2D and 3D figures such as circle, triangle, square, rectangle, cube, and sphere.
- 2D shapes (flat shapes): Circle, Triangle, Square, Rectangle
- 3D shapes (solid shapes): Cube, Cuboid, Sphere, Cylinder, Cone
2. What is a 2D shape with examples?
A 2D shape is a flat figure that has only length and width but no thickness.
- Examples: Circle, Triangle, Square, Rectangle
- They lie on a plane surface.
- They have area and perimeter but no volume.
3. What is a 3D shape with examples?
A 3D shape is a solid figure that has length, width, and height (depth).
- Examples: Cube, Sphere, Cylinder, Cone
- They occupy space.
- They have volume and surface area.
4. What is a circle and what are its properties?
A circle is a 2D shape where all points are at an equal distance from a fixed point called the center.
- The fixed distance is called the radius.
- The boundary is called the circumference.
- It has no sides and no corners.
5. What is the difference between a square and a rectangle?
The main difference is that a square has all sides equal, while a rectangle has only opposite sides equal.
- Square: 4 equal sides and 4 right angles.
- Rectangle: Opposite sides equal and 4 right angles.
6. What are the types of triangles?
Triangles are classified based on sides and angles into different types.
- Based on sides: Equilateral (3 equal sides), Isosceles (2 equal sides), Scalene (no equal sides)
- Based on angles: Acute, Right, Obtuse
7. What is the formula for the area of basic shapes?
The area formulas for basic shapes depend on the type of shape.
- Square: side²
- Rectangle: length × width
- Triangle: ½ × base × height
- Circle: πr²
8. What is a cube and what are its properties?
A cube is a 3D shape with six equal square faces.
- It has 6 faces, 12 edges, and 8 vertices.
- All edges are equal in length.
- Volume formula: side³
9. How do you identify basic geometric shapes?
You identify basic geometric shapes by observing their sides, corners (vertices), and dimensions.
- Count the number of sides and angles.
- Check if sides are equal or parallel.
- Determine if it is flat (2D) or solid (3D).
10. What are some real-life examples of basic shapes?
Basic shapes appear in many real-life objects around us.
- Circle: Clock, coin, wheel
- Rectangle: Door, book, screen
- Triangle: Traffic sign
- Sphere: Ball
- Cylinder: Can, pipe
