A 2D shape is a flat shape that has only two dimensions - length and width, with no thickness or depth, that is the reason why it is called a two-dimensional shape. For example, a sheet of paper is two-dimensional in shape. It consists of a length and a width but does not have any depth or height. Some common 2D shapes are squares, rectangles, triangles, circles, and hexagons. Let us learn more about 2D geometric shapes, the difference between 2D and 3D shapes, along with some 2D shapes examples on this page.
| 1. | What are 2D Shapes? |
| 2. | Difference Between 2D and 3D Shapes |
| 3. | Properties of 2D Shapes |
| 4. | Area and Perimeter of 2D Shapes |
| 5. | FAQs on 2D Shapes |
What are 2D Shapes?
In geometry, 2D shapes (2 dimensional shapes) can be defined as plane figures that are completely flat and have only two dimensions - length and width. They do not have any thickness and can be measured only by the two dimensions. In comparison to these, a 3D (three-dimensional) shape has three dimensions - length, width, and height. For example, a dice is three-dimensional because it consists of a length, a width, and a height. Some common 3D shapes are cuboids, cones, pyramids, and cylinders.
2D Shapes Definition
A polygon is a 2 dimensional shape made up of straight line segments which are connected with each other, thus giving it a closed shape. A circle, square, rectangle, and triangle are some examples of two-dimensional shapes and these shapes can be drawn on paper. All the 2 dimensional shapes have sides, vertices (corners), and interior angles, except for the circle, which is a curved figure. 2D shapes with at least three straight sides are called polygons and these include triangles, squares, and quadrilaterals. The figure given below shows a list of 2D shapes that we commonly come across.
Types of 2D Shapes - Regular and Irregular 2D Shapes
A 2D shape can be classified as regular or irregular based on the length and the interior angles:
- A 2 dimensional shape (2D shape) is said to be regular if all its sides are equal in length and all its interior angles measure the same.
- A two dimensional shape (2D shape) is irregular if all the sides are of unequal length and all its angles are of unequal measures.
Observe the following figure which shows the difference between regular and irregular two dimensional shapes. It shows a list of 2d shapes.
Difference Between 2D and 3D Shapes
The following table shows a comparison between 2D and 3D shapes.
| 2D Shapes | 3D Shapes | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-Form | 2D = Two-Dimensional | 3D = Three-Dimensional |
| Definition | 2D shapes are flat and have only two dimensions of length and width with no thickness or depth. | A 3D shape has 3 dimensions of length, width, and height. |
| Dimensions | Length and width only | Length, width, and height |
| Mathematical axes | x-axis and y-axis | x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis |
| Examples | Rectangle, square, circle, triangle, etc. | Cylinder, sphere, cube, prism, etc. |
Properties of 2D Shapes
2-D shapes are flat and can be drawn on a sheet of paper. There are different types of regular and irregular two dimensional shapes like a circle, triangle, square, rectangle, pentagon, and hexagon. Let us learn about a few of them along with their properties.
2D Shapes Names
There are many 2d shapes in geometry. However, a few of them are commonly seen around us and are discussed below. Here is a list of 2D shapes examples along with their properties.
Circle:
A circle is a closed 2 Dimensional shape made up of a curved line with no corners or edges. Some real-life examples of the circle are coins, wheels, and pizzas. A circle consists of various parts like the radius, diameter, circumference, and so on.
Properties of a Circle
Observe the properties of a circle to identify it as a two-dimensional shape.
- Circles are completely round and made up of a single curved line.
- The circumference is the length of the boundary of the circle.
- The radius is the distance from the center of the circle to the boundary of the circle.
- The diameter is a line segment that goes straight across the circle, through the center. It is the longest possible line that can be drawn inside a circle and is twice the length of the radius.
Observe the following figure to see the different parts of a circle.
Triangle:
A triangle is a 2 dimensional shape with three sides and three vertices (corners).
Properties of a Triangle
Observe the properties of a triangle to identify it as a two dimensional shape.
- A triangle is a closed shape with 3 sides, 3 vertices and 3 angles.
- It is a polygon whose interior angles add up to 180°.
Some real-life examples of a triangle are traffic signs, pyramids, and nachos. The following figure shows the sides and vertices of a triangle.
Square:
A square is a 2 dimensional shape with four equal sides and each angle is equal to 90˚. Some of the real-life examples of a square are: a loaf of bread and a chessboard.
Properties of a Square
Observe the properties of the given square PQSR to identify it as a 2D shape.
- All four sides are equal, i.e., side PQ = QS = RS = PR
- Side PQ is parallel to RS.
- Side PR is parallel to QS.
- All four internal angles measure 90 ̊.
Rectangle:
A rectangle is a 2D shape with four sides in which the opposite sides are equal and parallel, and all the four angles measure 90 ̊. Some of the real-life examples of a rectangle are table tops, blackboards, cardboard, etc.
Properties of a Rectangle
Observe the properties of the given rectangle ABCD to identify it as a 2D shape.
- Side AB = DC
- Side AD = BC
- Side AB is parallel to DC.
- Side AD is parallel to BC.
- All four angles measure 90 ̊.
Area and Perimeter of 2D Shapes
The area of a 2D shape is the space enclosed within it. The perimeter of a 2D shape is the total length of its boundary. The following table shows the formulas that are used to calculate the area and perimeter of a few common 2D shapes:
| 2D Shape | Area Formula | Perimeter Formula |
|---|---|---|
| Circle | A = π × r2, where 'r' is the radius of the circle and 'π' is a constant whose value is taken as 22/7 or 3.14 | Circumference (Perimeter) = 2πr |
| Triangle | Area = ½ (Base × height) | Perimeter = Sum of the three sides |
| Square | Area = Side2 | Perimeter = 4 × side |
| Rectangle | Area = Length × Width | Perimeter = 2 (Length + Width) |
Important Notes
Here are a few important notes that should be remembered while studying 2D shapes.
- Every 2D shape can be measured by its width and length.
- All the 2D shapes are completely flat.
2d Shapes Real Life Examples
A few real-life examples of 2d shapes are given below:
- A currency note which has the shape of a rectangle
- A chess board that has the shape of a square.
- A cookie in the shape of a circle.
- A honeycomb with little hexagons in it.
☛ Related Articles
- Geometric Shapes
- Plane Shapes
- Solid Shapes
- Visualizing Solid Shapes
- 2D and 3D Shapes Worksheets
FAQs on 2D Shapes
What are 2D Shapes in Maths?
A 2D (two-dimensional) shape can be defined as a plane figure that can be drawn on a flat surface. It has only two dimensions - length and width, with no thickness or depth. Some of the basic 2D shapes are rectangle, pentagon, quadrilateral, circle, triangles, square, octagon, and hexagon.
What are 2D Shapes and 3D Shapes?
A flat shape that has two dimensions - length and width, is a 2D shape, whereas, a shape that has three dimensions - length, width, and depth (height) is a 3D shape.
What are the Properties of 2D Shapes?
A 2D shape is a flat shape that can be drawn on a plane surface. As the name suggests, it has only two dimensions of length and width without any thickness. While some 2D shapes have sides and vertices, others are made up of curved lines.
How many 2D Shapes are there?
There are many different kinds of 2D shapes, like the rectangle, pentagon, quadrilateral, circle, triangle, square, octagon and hexagon. These are flat shapes that can be drawn on a flat surface.
How to find the Area of 2D Shapes?
The area of a 2D shape is the space occupied by it. Since there are different kinds of 2D shapes like circles, squares, rectangles, etc., there are different formulas used to find their areas. For example, the area of a circle can be calculated with the help of the formula, Area = πr2, where 'r' is the radius of the circle and (pi) π is a constant with a value of 22/7. The area of a square is calculated with the formula, Area = side × side. The area of 2D shapes is expressed in square units.
How to Teach 2D Shapes?
Teaching 2D shapes is easy if the concept is introduced in the early years. First of all, the names of the basic shapes can be made to learn. Then, the students should be asked to identify the names of the shapes from a list of 2d shapes. Another interesting way can be by asking them to spot the shapes around them.
Name the 2D Shapes around the House.
Some commonly seen 2d shapes that can be seen in the house are, the rectangular surface of a notebook (rectangle), the circular shape of a clock (circle), the circular shape of a pizza, a square-shaped window (square)
Is Circle a 2D Shape?
Yes, a circle is a 2D shape because it exists on a plane with no depth. It is a curved shape that has no corners or edges.
Which 2D Shape has 4 Sides?
A quadrilateral is a 2D shape that has four sides. For example, quadrilaterals like squares and rectangles are 2D shapes with 4 sides.
Is Oval 2D or 3D Shape?
Oval is a 2D shape because it exists on a plane and has no depth. It is a curved figure with no edges or corners.
