Enter the perimeter and area into the calculator to determine the P/A Ratio. This ratio is useful in various fields such as material science, biology, and geometry to compare the boundary length to the surface area.
P/A Ratio Formula
The following formula is used to calculate the P/A Ratio.
P/A = P / A
Variables:
- P/A is the perimeter to area ratio (units^-1)
- P is the perimeter of the shape (units)
- A is the area of the shape (square units)
To calculate the P/A Ratio, divide the perimeter of the shape by its area.
What is a P/A Ratio?
The P/A Ratio, or perimeter-to-area ratio, is a dimensionless quantity that measures the relative extent of the boundary of a shape compared to its area. It is often used in various scientific and engineering fields to analyze shapes and their properties. For example, in heat transfer, a higher P/A ratio might indicate more rapid cooling or heating due to greater exposure to the environment relative to the object’s size.
How to Calculate P/A Ratio?
The following steps outline how to calculate the P/A Ratio.
- First, determine the perimeter (P) of the shape in units.
- Next, determine the area (A) of the shape in square units.
- Next, gather the formula from above = P/A = P / A.
- Finally, calculate the P/A Ratio.
- After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem :
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.
Perimeter (P) = 24 units
Area (A) = 36 square units