By the end of this chapter you'll be able to…

  • 1Find the area of combined plane figures
  • 2Compute circumference and area of a circle
  • 3Find the length of an arc and area of a sector
  • 4Recognise nets of 3-D figures
  • 5Identify top, front and side views of solids
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Why this chapter matters
Measurements applies area and circle formulas to real combined shapes and introduces 3-D nets and views. Arc and sector calculations are reliable scoring questions in the TN Class 8 exam.

Before you start — revise these

A 5-minute refresher here will save you 30 minutes of confusion below.

Measurements — Class 8 Maths (Samacheer Kalvi)

TN State Board (Samacheer Kalvi) Class 8 Mathematics, Chapter 2. Areas, the circle, and 3-D shapes.


1. About this chapter

This chapter covers area and perimeter of combined figures, the circle (arc length and sector area), and three-dimensional shapes (nets and views of solids).

2. Combined plane figures

  • Find the area of a combined figure by splitting it into simple shapes (rectangle, triangle, trapezium, semicircle) and adding their areas.
  • Useful areas: rectangle l × b; triangle ½ × b × h; trapezium ½ × (a + b) × h; circle πr².

3. The circle — arc and sector

  • Circumference = 2πr; area = πr².
  • Length of an arc = (θ/360) × 2πr.
  • Area of a sector = (θ/360) × πr² (θ = central angle in degrees).

4. Three-dimensional shapes

  • A net is a flat shape that folds into a solid (cube, cuboid, cylinder, cone).
  • A solid can be seen from different views — top, front and side.

5. Worked examples

Example 1. Find the length of an arc of a circle (r = 7 cm, θ = 90°). (π = 22/7) = (90/360) × 2 × (22/7) × 7 = ¼ × 44 = 11 cm.

Example 2. Find the area of a sector (r = 7 cm, θ = 90°). = (90/360) × (22/7) × 7² = ¼ × 154 = 38.5 cm².

Example 3. Find the area of a combined figure: a rectangle 6 × 4 cm with a semicircle (d = 4 cm) on one short side. Rectangle = 24; semicircle = ½π(2)² = ½ × (22/7) × 4 ≈ 6.28 → total ≈ 30.28 cm².

6. Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Forgetting the (θ/360) factor in arc/sector formulas. Fix: Arc = (θ/360) × 2πr; sector = (θ/360) × πr².
  • Mistake: Using diameter as radius. Fix: r = d/2.
  • Mistake: Adding overlapping areas in combined figures. Fix: Add or subtract parts carefully based on the shape.

7. Practice (book-back style)

  1. Write the formula for the area of a sector.
  2. Find the circumference of a circle of radius 14 cm (π = 22/7).
  3. Find the length of an arc (r = 21 cm, θ = 60°).
  4. What is a net of a solid?
  5. Name the three standard views of a solid.

8. Answer key

  1. Area of sector = (θ/360) × πr².
  2. 2πr = 2 × (22/7) × 14 = 88 cm.
  3. (60/360) × 2 × (22/7) × 21 = (1/6) × 132 = 22 cm.
  4. A flat figure that folds up to form the solid.
  5. Top view, front view and side view.

9. Quick revision

  • Chapter 2 · combined areas, circle, 3-D shapes.
  • Combined area = sum (or difference) of simple shapes.
  • Circumference 2πr; area πr².
  • Arc = (θ/360) × 2πr; sector = (θ/360) × πr².
  • Nets fold into solids; solids have top/front/side views.

Key formulas & results

Everything you need to memorise, in one card. Screenshot this for revision.

Circle
circumference = 2πr; area = πr²
r = radius.
Length of an arc
(θ/360) × 2πr
θ = central angle.
Area of a sector
(θ/360) × πr²
Fraction of the circle.
Combined figures
add/subtract areas of simple shapes
Split the figure first.
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Common mistakes & fixes

These are the exact errors that cost students marks in board exams. Read them once, save yourself the trouble.

WATCH OUT
Forgetting the (θ/360) factor in arc/sector formulas
Arc = (θ/360) × 2πr; sector = (θ/360) × πr².
WATCH OUT
Using diameter as radius
r = d/2.
WATCH OUT
Adding overlapping areas in combined figures
Add or subtract parts carefully based on the shape.

NCERT exercises

Every NCERT exercise from this chapter — what it covers and how many questions to expect.

Multiple choice questions
Multiple choice questions
MCQs on areas, circle and 3-D shapes.
5
Questions
Area / circle problems
Area / circle problems
Combined figures, arc length and sector area.
6
Questions
3-D shapes
3-D shapes
Nets and views of solids.
4
Questions

Practice problems

Work through this chapter's problems as a readiness check — reveal each solution, mark yourself honestly, and get your gap report at the end.

Readiness check

Are you exam-ready for Measurements?

6 problems from this chapter. Try each one, reveal the worked solution, mark yourself honestly — get your gap report at the end.

6 questions~4 min worth ~10 marks in Tamil Nadu (TNBSE) exams

5-minute revision

The whole chapter, distilled. Read this the night before the exam.

  • Chapter 2 of Samacheer Kalvi Class 8 Mathematics.
  • Combined area = sum (or difference) of simple shapes.
  • Circle: circumference 2πr, area πr².
  • Arc = (θ/360) × 2πr; sector = (θ/360) × πr².
  • Nets fold into solids; solids have top/front/side views.
  • Always use radius, not diameter.

Tamil Nadu (TNBSE) marks blueprint

Where the marks come from in this chapter — so you can plan your prep.

Typical chapter weightage: 6-10 marks across MCQ, area and 3-D problems

Question typeMarks eachTypical countWhat it tests
MCQ11-2Formulas and 3-D facts
Area / Circle2-31-2Combined figures, arc, sector
3-D Shapes21Nets and views
Prep strategy
  • Memorise circle, arc and sector formulas
  • Split combined figures into simple shapes
  • Use r = d/2
  • Practise nets and views

Where this shows up in the real world

This chapter isn't just an exam topic — it lives in the world around you.

Design and packaging

Nets are used to design boxes and cartons.

Construction

Combined-area formulas estimate floor and wall areas.

Engineering drawing

Top/front/side views describe machine parts.

Exam strategy

Battle-tested tips from teachers and toppers for this chapter.

1
Include the (θ/360) factor for arcs and sectors
2
Convert diameter to radius
3
Split combined figures clearly
4
Sketch nets and views neatly

Going beyond the textbook

For olympiad aspirants and curious learners — topics that build on this chapter.

STRETCH
Find the area of a shaded region between two concentric circles.
STRETCH
Draw all distinct nets of a cube.

Where else this chapter is tested

CBSE board isn't the only one — other exams test this chapter too.

TN Class 8 Annual ExamHigh
Foundation / NMMS MathematicsMedium
School unit testsHigh

Questions students ask

The real ones — pulled from the Q&A community and tutor sessions.

A sector is a fraction θ/360 of the whole circle, so its area is (θ/360) × πr².

A net shows the flat faces of a solid laid out so that, when folded, they form the 3-D shape — useful for finding surface area.
Verified by the tuition.in editorial team
Last reviewed on 3 June 2026. Written and reviewed by subject-matter experts — read about our process.
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