Compound Figures

Area of Compound Shapes

What is a Compound Shape?

A compound shape is made up of basic shapes put together. You may also hear it called a "composite" or "complex" shape.

The picture on your right is a compound shape ----------------->

How can we find the area of a compound shape?

Break it up into pieces!

1. Break the compound shape into basic shapes.

2. Find the area of each shape.

3. Add the areas you have found to get the area of the compound shape.

Find the Area of each shape

- Use the formula of Length x Width = Area to find the area of each shape individually

Multiple Choice

What is the Length and Width of rectangle A?

• Length = 9 ft.

  Width = 2 ft.

• Length = 2 ft.

  Width = 9 ft.

• Length = 5 ft.

  Width = 2 ft.

• Length = 4 ft.

  Width = 2 ft.

Multiple Choice

What is the length and width of rectangle B?

• Length = 5 ft.

  Width = 4 ft.

• Length = 4 ft.

  Width = 6 ft.

• Length = 4 ft.

  Width = 4 ft.

• Length = 6 ft.

  Width = 4ft.

Multiple Choice

What is the Area of rectangle A?

• Area = 11 square ft.

• Area = 24 square ft.

• Area = 16 square ft.

• Area = 18 square ft.

Multiple Choice

What is the area of rectangle B?

• Area = 18 square ft.

• Area = 16 square ft.

• Area = 24 square ft.

• Area = 8 square ft.

Multiple Choice

What is the area for the compound shape? Remember to take the areas from Rectangle A and B and add them.

• 16 square ft.

• 18 square ft.

• 34 square ft.

• 36 square ft.

IXL Practice

Now you try some on your own!

- Go to IXL

- Type in the skill code SGP

- Master the skill