What is the total distance around a polygon called?

The total distance around a polygon is known as the perimeter. When you calculate the perimeter, you add together the lengths of all the sides of the polygon. This measurement gives you the total length that would be required to go around the shape completely.

For example, if you have a rectangle, you would add the lengths of all four sides. The concept of perimeter applies to various types of polygons, including triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, and so on. Each of these shapes has a defined set of sides, and the perimeter is simply the total length of these sides.

Other terms like area, volume, and circumference relate to different measurements of shapes. Area measures the amount of space inside a two-dimensional shape, volume denotes the space within a three-dimensional object, and circumference typically describes the distance around a circle specifically, not a polygon. Thus, identifying the perimeter as the total distance around a polygon captures the essence of measuring its outer boundary.