smc

Assume that the side length of the square is 4 units. Then the perimeter for both shapes is is 4 4 = 16 units. Since the perimeter of a circle is 2πr, then 2πr =16 and r = 8/π, which is about 2.5. The area of a circle is πr^2 so (2.5^2)π = 6.25π or about 19.6. This is more than the area of the square, which is 4^2 =16, so the answer is $\boxed{\text{the area of the circle is the greater}}$.