Can you make the area of your shape go up but the perimeter go down?

Yes, you can.

- - If it's a rectangle, make it more square ... make the length and width

more nearly equal.

- - No matter what shape it is, make it more like a circle. The circle

has the most possible area inside the smallest possible perimeter.

If you use a triangle as your shape it will make the perimeter smaller then your area but if you use a circle your perimeter will be more smaller then your area.