Maths

2D shapes: Types and properties

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2D shapes: Types and properties

In a nutshell

2D shapes are flat shapes that are sometimes called plane shapes. There are many different types of 2D shapes. Regular polygons have equal side lengths and equal angles.


Polygons

Polygons are straight-sided shapes. Regular polygons have sides of equal length, and equal angles. Irregular polygons have at least one side or angle that is different in size. Below is a table that shows the names of different shapes depending on how many sides they have:


shape name

number of sides

Diagram

Triangle

33​​

Maths; Geometry - properties of shapes; KS2 Year 3; 2D shapes: Types and properties
Quadrilateral
44​​

Maths; Geometry - properties of shapes; KS2 Year 3; 2D shapes: Types and properties
Pentagon
55​​

Maths; Geometry - properties of shapes; KS2 Year 3; 2D shapes: Types and properties
Hexagon
66​​

Maths; Geometry - properties of shapes; KS2 Year 3; 2D shapes: Types and properties
Heptagon
77​​
Maths; Geometry - properties of shapes; KS2 Year 3; 2D shapes: Types and properties
Octagon
88​​

Maths; Geometry - properties of shapes; KS2 Year 3; 2D shapes: Types and properties


Quadrilaterals

Quadrilaterals are four-sided shapes. There are a number of different types of quadrilateral:


shape name

properties

diagram

Square

  • Four sides of equal length.
  • Four right angles.
  • The diagonals meet at right angles.
  • Two pairs of parallel sides.
Maths; Geometry - properties of shapes; KS2 Year 3; 2D shapes: Types and properties
Rectangle
  • Two pairs of equal sides.
  • Four right angles.
  • Two pairs of parallel sides.
Maths; Geometry - properties of shapes; KS2 Year 3; 2D shapes: Types and properties
Rhombus
  • Four sides of equal length.
  • Opposite sides are parallel.
  • Opposite angles are equal.
Maths; Geometry - properties of shapes; KS2 Year 3; 2D shapes: Types and properties
Parallelogram
  • Opposite sides are the same length.
  • Opposite sides are parallel.
  • Opposite angles are equal.
Maths; Geometry - properties of shapes; KS2 Year 3; 2D shapes: Types and properties
Trapezium
  • One pair of parallel sides.
Maths; Geometry - properties of shapes; KS2 Year 3; 2D shapes: Types and properties
Kite
  • Two pairs of equal sides next to each other.
  • No sides are parallel.
Maths; Geometry - properties of shapes; KS2 Year 3; 2D shapes: Types and properties


Triangles

A triangle is a 2D plane shape with three straight sides and three angles. There are four types of triangle:


​​SHape name

properties

diagram

Equilateral triangle
  • All three sides are equal.
  • All three angles are equal.
Maths; Geometry - properties of shapes; KS2 Year 3; 2D shapes: Types and properties
Isosceles triangle
  • Two sides are equal.
  • Two angles are equal.
Maths; Geometry - properties of shapes; KS2 Year 3; 2D shapes: Types and properties

Scalene triangle
  • ​All sides are different.
  • All angles are different.

Maths; Geometry - properties of shapes; KS2 Year 3; 2D shapes: Types and properties
Right-angled triangle
  • One angle is a right angle.

Maths; Geometry - properties of shapes; KS2 Year 3; 2D shapes: Types and properties

Circles

A circle is a shape made up of all points in a plane that are a fixed distance from the centre. There are a number of properties of a circle:

  • Radius - the distance from the edge to the centre of a circle.
  • Diameter - the distance across a circle through its centre.
  • Circumference - the length of the outside edge of a circle.

Note: The diameter of a circle is twice the radius.

Maths; Geometry - properties of shapes; KS2 Year 3; 2D shapes: Types and properties
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

FAQs

  • Question: What is the circumference of a circle?

    Answer: The circumference is the length of the outside edge of a circle.

  • Question: What is a triangle?

    Answer: A triangle is a 2D plane shape with three straight sides and three angles.

  • Question: What is a circle?

    Answer: A circle is a shape made up of all points in a plane that are a fixed distance from the centre.

  • Question: What is a polygon?

    Answer: A polygon is a straight-sided 2D (plane) shape.

  • Question: What is the name for a four-sided shape?

    Answer: The name for a four-sided shape is a quadrilateral.

Theory

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