What geometric concept is associated with tangrams?

Tangrams are a type of dissection puzzle consisting of seven flat pieces called tans, which are put together to form a square. The objective is to rearrange these pieces to form a specific shape using all the pieces, which can be done in numerous ways. The concept of area is fundamental to tangrams because the shapes involved retain the same area as the square from which they are cut, regardless of how the pieces are rearranged.

When working with tangrams, students explore how the area of the combined shapes can be calculated and how it relates to the area of the original square. Understanding area helps students develop spatial reasoning skills as they manipulate the pieces to create various shapes while maintaining the same total area. This direct correlation between the pieces and the concept of area makes it a central focus in the context of tangrams.