Calculating the Area of Composite Figures

The video tutorial covers finding the area of composite figures, which are 2D shapes made up of other 2D shapes like squares and rectangles. It explains two methods: decomposing, which involves breaking down the figure into known shapes, and composing, which involves building up the figure to a known shape and subtracting parts. The focus is on decomposition, with practical examples provided to illustrate the process.

What are composite figures made of?

• Only circles

• 2D figures such as squares and rectangles

• Imaginary lines

• 3D shapes

What does it mean to decompose a figure?

• To paint it

• To break it down into known shapes

• To multiply its dimensions

• To erase parts of it

How do you find the area of a decomposed figure?

• By adding the areas of the decomposed shapes

• By guessing the measurements

• By dividing the figure into equal parts

• By using a ruler only

What is an alternative method to decomposing figures?

• Cutting

• Drawing

• Folding

• Composing

What shapes are useful when decomposing figures?

• Unknown shapes

• Shapes without area formulas

• Triangles and rectangles

• Invisible shapes

What is the first step in decomposing a figure to find its area?

• Calculating the perimeter

• Drawing it from memory

• Guessing the area

• Breaking it into smaller known shapes

How do you calculate the area of a rectangle within a composite figure?

• Length x Width

• Length + Width

• Base x Height

• Base + Height

What do you do after finding the areas of all decomposed shapes?

• Subtract them

• Multiply them

• Divide them

• Add them together

What is the area formula for a triangle used in the examples?

• Base x Height

• (Base x Height) / 2

• 2 x (Base + Height)

• (Base + Height) / 2

Why might the final area calculation differ among students?

• Different decomposition methods

• Drawing the figure incorrectly

• Incorrect calculations

• Using different units