# AutoCAD exercise: a plot of land

> Draw a plot of land in AutoCAD from its sides' lengths and angles with polar coordinates, then measure its area and dimension it. Free, step by step, online.

Draw this plot of land, in metres, from its sides' lengths and directions: 40 at 0°, 30 at 80°, 35 at 155° and 25 at 230°, then back to the start. Measure its area and perimeter, and dimension each side and the angle at its second corner. Polar coordinates, a length and an angle, draw each side from the end of the one before. The drawing's dimension scale is set for metres.

- **Exercise:** Intermediate · Civil · 2D
- **Commands:** [`PLINE`](https://mellowcad.com/docs/commands/pline.md), [`AREA`](https://mellowcad.com/docs/commands/area.md), [`DIMALIGNED`](https://mellowcad.com/docs/commands/dimaligned.md), [`DIMANGULAR`](https://mellowcad.com/docs/commands/dimangular.md)
- **In the editor:** [Open it with its drawing](/draw?drawing=plot-of-land), dimensioned beside where you draw yours

## The drawing

A plot of land of five sides, in metres, each side dimensioned and one angle.

## Step by step

The engine draws each step and writes its history as you would type it: the prompts in AutoCAD 2027's order, with the same option letters. After a command's first point, a typed point is measured from the last one, as dynamic input measures it, and the history writes it with @; \# measures from the origin.

### 1. Draw the boundary

On the Outline layer, [`PLINE`](https://mellowcad.com/docs/commands/pline.md) from `0,0`, then each side as its length and its angle: `40<0`, `30<80`, `35<155` and `25<230`, each measured from the last point. `Close` draws the fifth side and closes the boundary: one object, which [`AREA`](https://mellowcad.com/docs/commands/area.md) can measure.

1. Draw the boundary

```text
Command: PLINE
Specify start point: 0,0
Current line-width is 0.00
Specify next point or [Arc/Halfwidth/Length/Undo/Width]: @40<0
Specify next point or [Arc/Close/Halfwidth/Length/Undo/Width]: @30<80
Specify next point or [Arc/Close/Halfwidth/Length/Undo/Width]: @35<155
Specify next point or [Arc/Close/Halfwidth/Length/Undo/Width]: @25<230
Specify next point or [Arc/Close/Halfwidth/Length/Undo/Width]: C
```

### 2. Measure its area

[`AREA`](https://mellowcad.com/docs/commands/area.md), then `Object`, and pick the boundary: the command line gives its area, in square metres, and its perimeter.

2. Measure its area

```text
Command: AREA
Specify first corner point or [Object/Add area/Subtract area] <Object>: O
Select objects:
Area = 1620.90, Perimeter = 155.32
```

### 3. Dimension it

On Dimensions, [`DIMALIGNED`](https://mellowcad.com/docs/commands/dimaligned.md) and Enter at its first prompt: it then asks for an object, and a pick on a side dimensions that side, parallel to it. Place each one outside the plot. [`DIMANGULAR`](https://mellowcad.com/docs/commands/dimangular.md) on the two sides that meet at `40,0` gives the angle between them, 100°.

3. Dimension it

```text
Command: DIMALIGNED
Specify first extension line origin or <select object>:
Select object to dimension:
Specify dimension line location or [Text/Angle]:
Dimension text = 40
Command: DIMALIGNED
Specify first extension line origin or <select object>:
Select object to dimension:
Specify dimension line location or [Text/Angle]:
Dimension text = 30
Command: DIMALIGNED
Specify first extension line origin or <select object>:
Select object to dimension:
Specify dimension line location or [Text/Angle]:
Dimension text = 35
Command: DIMALIGNED
Specify first extension line origin or <select object>:
Select object to dimension:
Specify dimension line location or [Text/Angle]:
Dimension text = 25
Command: DIMALIGNED
Specify first extension line origin or <select object>:
Select object to dimension:
Specify dimension line location or [Text/Angle]:
Dimension text = 25.32
Command: DIMANGULAR
Select arc, circle, line, or <specify vertex>:
Select second line:
Specify dimension arc line location or [Text/Angle]:
Dimension text = 100
```

## More exercises

- [AutoCAD exercise: a stepped shaft](https://mellowcad.com/docs/exercises/shaft.md): Intermediate · Mechanical · 2D
- [AutoCAD isometric exercise: a stepped block](https://mellowcad.com/docs/exercises/isometric-block.md): Intermediate · Mechanical · Isometric
- [AutoCAD 3D exercise: a pulley](https://mellowcad.com/docs/exercises/pulley.md): Intermediate · Mechanical · 3D solid
- [AutoCAD practice exercises](https://mellowcad.com/docs/exercises.md)