1. The problem is to find the perimeter of a shape given its dimensions. 2. The perimeter of a polygon is the sum of the lengths of all its sides. 3. If the shape is a rectangle with length $l$ and width $w$, the perimeter $P$ is given by the formula: $$P = 2l + 2w$$ 4. To solve, identify the lengths of all sides and add them together. 5. For example, if a rectangle has length 5 and width 3, then: $$P = 2 \times 5 + 2 \times 3$$ 6. Simplify the expression: $$P = 10 + 6$$ 7. Therefore, the perimeter is: $$P = 16$$ This means the total distance around the shape is 16 units.