Area of Composite Shapes

Piece by Piece

Can't find the area formula for a particular shape on the GED Formula Sheet? Don't panic. Break the shape into pieces that you do have a formula for.

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LEARN IT

Composite shapes are composed, or built, of known shapes. For example, two rectangles can be put together to form an "L-shape", a triangle stacked on a rectangle forms a "house shape", and a semi-circle balanced atop an isosceles triangle looks a lot like an "ice cream cone". The area of a composite shape is found by adding and/or subtracting the areas of the composite pieces.

Watch the Virtual GED Class video below for a complete explanation and tons of worked example problems. Refer to your GED Formula sheet and print out the example problems to follow along with the video lesson.

PRACTICE IT

Area of Rectangular Composite Shapes

Find the area of compound shapes composed entirely of rectangles.

Area of Mixed Composite Shapes

Find the area of compound shapes composed of various known shapes.

A&P of Composite Shapes Application Problems

Area and perimeter of composite figures application problems.

WORKED EXAMPLES

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Example 4

Challenge 1

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