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.


  1. First, determine the perimeter (P) of the shape in units.
  2. Next, determine the area (A) of the shape in square units.
  3. Next, gather the formula from above = P/A = P / A.
  4. Finally, calculate the P/A Ratio.
  5. 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