Calculating the Area of a Composite Figure: A Step-by-Step Guide

composite figure

A composite figure is a 2-dimensional shape formed by combining two or more simpler shapes

A composite figure is a 2-dimensional shape formed by combining two or more simpler shapes. It can be a combination of polygons, circles, triangles, rectangles, or any other basic shape. The individual shapes that make up the composite figure can be congruent or non-congruent.

To find the area of a composite figure, you need to break it down into simpler shapes and calculate the area of each individual shape. Then, sum up the areas of these simpler shapes to find the total area of the composite figure.

Let’s take an example to illustrate this process. Suppose we have a composite figure consisting of a rectangle attached to a triangle.

Step 1: Break down the figure into simpler shapes.
In this case, we have a rectangle and a triangle. The rectangle has a length of 6 units and a width of 4 units. The triangle has a base of 4 units and a height of 3 units.

Step 2: Calculate the area of each shape.
For the rectangle, the area is given by the formula: Area = length × width = 6 × 4 = 24 square units.

For the triangle, the area is given by the formula: Area = (base × height) / 2 = (4 × 3) / 2 = 6 square units.

Step 3: Sum up the areas of the individual shapes.
The total area of the composite figure is the sum of the areas of the rectangle and the triangle. Therefore, the total area is 24 + 6 = 30 square units.

So, the area of the composite figure is 30 square units.

Remember to carefully identify the individual shapes within the composite figure and apply the appropriate formulas to calculate their areas.

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