Calculating the Area of a Hexagon

This video tutorial guides students through a GCSE Edexcel exam question from the summer 2018 series. It focuses on solving a geometry problem involving a compound shape by dividing it into simpler shapes, calculating their areas, and combining the results. The tutorial emphasizes using simple methods to maximize marks and avoid common errors, providing insights from an examiner's perspective.

What is the main focus of the methods discussed in the introduction?

• To guess the answers

• To use complex calculations for accuracy

• To apply the simplest methods for full marks

• To memorize all formulae

What is the first step in solving the compound shape question?

• Calculate the perimeter of the hexagon

• Find the volume of the hexagon

• Divide the shape into a rectangle and a trapezium

• Draw a circle around the hexagon

How do you calculate the area of a trapezium?

• Length times width

• Base times height

• Base times height divided by three

• Sum of parallel sides times height divided by two

What is the area of the rectangle in the compound shape?

• 280 cm²

• 460 cm²

• 180 cm²

• 100 cm²

What is the total area of the compound shape?

• 260 cm²

• 460 cm²

• 360 cm²

• 560 cm²