Area of Composite Shapes (Grade 6)
A composite shape is made of simpler shapes joined together (like an L-shape = two rectangles). Find its area by splitting it into rectangles (and triangles), finding each piece's area, and adding them up. Sometimes it's easier to find a big rectangle and subtract a missing corner.
Understanding area of composite shapes
A composite shape is made of simpler shapes joined together (like an L-shape = two rectangles). Find its area by splitting it into rectangles (and triangles), finding each piece's area, and adding them up. Sometimes it's easier to find a big rectangle and subtract a missing corner.
Key Idea
A composite shape is made of simpler shapes joined together (like an L-shape = two rectangles). Find its area by splitting it into rectangles (and triangles), finding each piece's area, and adding them up. Sometimes it's easier to find a big rectangle and subtract a missing corner.
Seeing it in action
Worked example
An L-shape splits into a 4×2 rectangle and a 2×3 rectangle. Total area?
4×2 = 8 and 2×3 = 6. Add: 8 + 6 = 14 square units.
Split the shape, then add the pieces.
Try a few
Two rectangles, 3×3 and 3×2 — total area?
A 5×5 square with a 2×2 corner removed — area?
25 − 4.
A 6×2 and a 2×2 joined — area?
Perimeter Patrol
A calm tile-grid game for building and reading area and perimeter.
Ready for the interactive lab?
Practice area of composite shapes in Numeris with instant feedback.
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