Module 00102

Introduction to Construction Math

Copyright © 2021 by NCCER, Alachua, FL 32615. Published by Pearson. All rights reserved.
6.0.0 Introduction to Geometry
Objective
Successful completion of this module prepares you to
do the following:
Classify angles and geometric shapes, as well as
calculating their areas or volumes.
a. List each angle type.
b. Name common geometric shapes and summarize
their qualities.
c. Calculate the area of two-dimensional shapes.
d. Calculate the volume of three-dimensional shapes.

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Construction Math
Performance Tasks

There are no performance tasks in this section.

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Construction Math
Trade Terms (1 of 6)
Circles: A closed curved line drawn at a constant distance
around a central point. A circle measures 360°.
Plane geometry: The mathematical study of two-dimensional
(flat) shapes.
Solid geometry: The mathematical study of three-dimensional
shapes.
Angle: The shape made by two straight lines coming together
at a point. The space between those two lines is measured in
degrees.
Vertex: The point at which two or more lines or curves come
together.

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Module 00101 - Basic Safety
Construction Math
Trade Terms (2 of 6)
Degree: A unit of measurement for angles. For example, a
right angle measures 90°.
Acute angle: Any angle greater than 0° and less than 90°.
Right angle: An angle that measures 90°. The two lines
that form a right angle are perpendicular to each other.
This is the angle most used in the crafts.
Obtuse angle: Any angle greater than 90° and less than
180°.
Straight angle: A 180° angle or flat line.
Adjacent angles: Angles that have the same vertex and
one side in common.

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Module 00101 - Basic Safety
Construction Math
Trade Terms (3 of 6)
Opposite angles: Two angles that are formed by two
straight lines crossing. They are always equal.
Rectangle: A four-sided shape with four 90° angles.
Opposite sides of a rectangle are always parallel and the
same length. Adjacent sides are perpendicular and may or
may not be equal in length.
Diagonal: Line drawn from one corner of a rectangle or
square to the farthest opposite corner.
Square: (1) A special type of rectangle with four equal
sides and four 90° angles. (2) The product of a number
multiplied by itself. For example, 25 is the square of 5;
16 is the square of 4.

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Module 00101 - Basic Safety
Construction Math
Trade Terms (4 of 6)
Right triangle: A triangle that includes one 90° angle.
Perimeter: The distance around the outside of a closed
shape, such as a rectangle, circle, square, or any irregular
shape.
Triangle: A closed shape that has three sides and three
angles.
Equilateral triangle: A triangle that has three equal sides
and three equal angles.
Isosceles triangle: A triangle that has two equal sides and
two equal angles.
Bisect: To divide into two equal parts. For example, when
an angle is bisected, the two resulting angles are equal.

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Module 00101 - Basic Safety
Construction Math
Trade Terms (5 of 6)
Base: As it relates to triangles, the base is the line forming
the bottom of the triangle.
Scalene triangle: A triangle with sides of unequal lengths.
Circumference: The distance around the curved line that
forms the circle.
Formula: A mathematical process used to solve a problem.
For example, the formula for finding the area of a rectangle
is Side A times Side B = Area, or A × B = Area.
Pi: A mathematical constant value approximately equal to
3.14 (or !!⁄") used to determine the area and
circumference of circles. It is sometimes symbolized by
the Greek letter π.

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Module 00101 - Basic Safety
Construction Math
Trade Terms (6 of 6)
Diameter: The length of a straight line that crosses from
one side of a circle, through the center point, to a point on
the opposite side. The diameter is the longest straight line
that can be drawn inside a circle.
Radius: The distance from a circle’s center point to any
point on the curved line, or half the width (diameter) of the
circle.
Area: The amount of space contained in a two-dimensional
object, such as a rectangle, circle, or square.

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Module 00101 - Basic Safety
Construction Math
6.1.0 – Angles
A right angle is neither obtuse nor acute. Adjacent and
opposite angles are two or more angles together.

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Construction Math
6.2.0 – Shapes
Note that the combined angles of the triangle are equal
to 180°, not 360°.

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Construction Math
6.2.1 and 6.2.2 Rectangle and Square
Diagonals create two equal right triangles in each of
these shapes. However, with a square, each of the other
two angles in each triangle will be exactly 45°. With a
rectangle, those angles depend on the rectangle length,
but they will not be 45° unless it is a square.

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Construction Math
6.2.3 – Triangle
Understanding triangles is extremely important for
pipefitters and workers in numerous other crafts.

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Construction Math
6.2.4 – Circle
These circle characteristics
are required in many circle-
related calculations.

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Construction Math
6.3.0 – Calculating the Area of Shapes (1 of 2)
Common Area Units
• 1 square inch = 1 inch × 1 inch = 1 inch2
• 1 square foot = 1 foot × 1 foot = 1 ft2
• 1 square yard = 1 yard × 1 yard = 1 yd2
• 1 square centimeter = 1 cm × 1 cm = 1 cm2
• 1 square meter = 1 m × 1 m = 1 m2

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Construction Math
6.3.0 – Calculating the Area of Shapes (2 of 2)
Common Area Formulas
• The area of a rectangle = length × width
• The area of a square also = length × width
• The area of a circle = π × radius2
In this formula, you must use the mathematical
constant π (pi), which has an approximate value of
3.14. You multiply π times the radius of the circle
squared (multiplied times itself).
• The area of a triangle = #⁄! × base × height

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Construction Math
6.4.0 – Volume of Three-Dimensional Shapes
Common Volume Formulas
• 1 cubic inch = 1 in × 1 in × 1 inch = 1 in3
• 1 cubic foot = 1 ft × 1 ft × 1 ft = 1 ft3
• 1 cubic yard = 1 yd × 1 yd × 1 yd = 1 yd3
• 1 cubic centimeter = 1 cm × 1 cm × 1 cm = 1 cm3
• 1 cubic meter = 1 m × 1 m × 1 m = 1 m3

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Construction Math
 6.4.1 – Three-Dimensional Rectangles
Volume of a Slab

Step 1 Convert inches to feet.

Step 2 Multiply length × width × depth.

Step 3 Convert cubic feet to cubic yards.

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Construction Math
6.4.3 – Cylinders
Volume of a Cylinder
π × radius2 × height (or πr2 × height)

Step 1 First, calculate the area of the circle using

πr2. Since the diameter is 22 feet, the
radius will be 11 feet (half the diameter).
Area of the circle = 3.14 × 112 = 379.94 sq ft
Step 2 Then calculate the volume (area × height).
379.94 sq ft × 10 ft = 3,799.4 cu ft
Step 3 If necessary, convert cubic feet to cubic yards.

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Construction Math
6.4.4 – Triangular Prisms
Volume of a Triangular Prism
𝟏⁄ × base × height × depth (thickness)
𝟐

Step 1 Calculate the area of the flat triangle first.

Step 2 Then calculate the volume of the prism, by

adding the factor of depth.

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Construction Math
6.0.0 Section Review Question One

right angle

An angle of straight angle

105° is a(n)
_________.
obtuse angle

acute angle

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Construction Math
6.0.0 Section Review Question One Answer

right angle

An angle of straight angle

105° is a(n)
_________.
obtuse angle

acute angle

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Construction Math
6.0.0 Section Review Question Two

perimeter
The distance
around the
outside of a
circumference
closed shape,
such as a
rectangle, circle,
vertex
square, or any
irregular shape
is the _______.
diameter

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Construction Math
6.0.0 Section Review Question Two Answer

perimeter
The distance
around the
outside of a
circumference
closed shape,
such as a
rectangle, circle,
vertex
square, or any
irregular shape
is the _______.
diameter

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Construction Math
6.0.0 Section Review Question Three

75.8 m3

Calculate the
area of a 75.8 m2
rectangle that is
15.6 meters ×
347.88 m2
22.3 meters.

347.88 m3

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Construction Math
6.0.0 Section Review Question Three Answer

75.8 m3

Calculate the
area of a 75.8 m2
rectangle that is
15.6 meters ×
347.88 m2
22.3 meters.

347.88 m3

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Construction Math
6.0.0 Section Review Question Four

704 ft2
Calculate the
volume of a
shipping 704 ft3
container that is
32' long × 11' 352 ft3
wide × 2' deep.

320 ft2

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Construction Math
6.0.0 Section Review Question Four Answer

704 ft2
Calculate the
volume of a
shipping 704 ft3
container that is
32' long × 11' 352 ft3
wide × 2' deep.

320 ft2

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Construction Math
6.0.0 Section Review Question Five

radius
The formula for
finding area
circumference is
pi (3.14) ×
_________. diameter

radius × 3

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Construction Math
6.0.0 Section Review Question Five Answer

radius
The formula for
finding area
circumference is
pi (3.14) ×
_________. diameter

radius × 3

Module 00102 – Introduction to

Construction Math
Next…

Module Review and Exam

Review the complete module to prepare for the Module
Exam. In addition, complete the Module Review.