What does the perimeter of a polygon refer to?

The correct understanding of the perimeter of a polygon is that it refers to the total length of the outer edges of the polygon. This encompasses all the straight line segments that make up the boundary of the shape. To calculate the perimeter, one would measure and sum the lengths of each side, effectively outlining the complete boundary of the polygon.

While individual line lengths added together is related to calculating the perimeter, it is not the most direct or widely understood definition of the term. Instead, defining the perimeter in terms of the total length of the outer edges is clearer and more intuitive, as it focuses on the whole structure rather than the process of summing individual segments.

The other options do not accurately define perimeter. For instance, the notion of area multiplied by two does not have relevance to perimeter and is unrelated to the concept of geometric bounds. Similarly, the distance to the centroid pertains to a different aspect of a polygon, focusing more on the center of the shape rather than its outer limits. Thus, stating that the perimeter signifies the total length of the outer edges directly aligns with the established geometric definition.