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P4–P5–P6 Overlap and cancel

Five semicircles on a line — the diameter

Five identical semicircles sit on one straight line — three above it, two below.

One step of the worked solution to Five semicircles on a line — the diameter, drawn in pencil.
7 steps, drawn in pencil

See all 7 steps

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The pattern behind it: Overlap and cancel

Two shapes share a region, and the shared part cancels out.

In this one. Cancel the shared overlap: what is left of two equal lengths must be equal too.

Counted twiceA + Bgroup Athe two in bothgroup Bthe same two againCounted oncetake the shared part offin all5 + 4 − 2 = 7

How to spot it

Shapes are joined, stacked, or have a piece cut off, and the question compares a perimeter or length before and after, rather than asking for an area from scratch.

Common mistake

Children assume perimeter changes the same way area does. Joining shapes or cutting off a corner can leave the perimeter unchanged, or change it by a different amount from the area.

More on this pattern →

The 33 problem patterns

All 33 patterns, one to a page — the 19 behind Primary 5 and 6 word problems, and the skills the younger years are built on. The bar model, how to spot it in the question, and the mistake children make. A booklet you can print. Free.

A PDF, and a note when new solutions go up.