The previous quiz was impossible

It's difficult but don't give up.

strange we didnt have to write anythging

This was an FAQ, so it was just a review

Why is math SO HARD! It's driving me crazy!

@EmmaTheOptimist Well it is very easy to get behind when you understand what to multiply. Then it is just simple maths by that point.

i hate this stuff. its so hard

I know its hard but don't give up.

I don't understand why some of the questions have calculators while others don't.

im pretty sure thats so we have to solve them on our own because some are easier than others but i dont know

Why do they put letters there instead of just putting numbers? It makes math a lot more complicated than it should be.

@K it is just because they ran out of numbers that day.

Main content

Course: 6th grade > Unit 8

Lesson 3: Area of composite figures

Plane figures FAQ

Google Classroom

Frequently asked questions about plane figures

What is area and why do we need to know it?

Area is the amount of space that a flat shape covers. We can measure area in square units, like square inches, square centimeters, or square tiles. Knowing the area of a shape can help us figure out how much material we need to cover it, how much space we have left, or how to compare different shapes.

For example, if we want to paint a wall, we need to know the area of the wall to buy enough paint. If we want to make a quilt, we need to know the area of each piece of fabric to start with enough of each color. If we want to find out which rug is bigger, we can compare the areas of the rugs.

How do we find the area of a parallelogram?

A parallelogram is a four-sided shape with opposite sides parallel and equal in length. To find the area of a parallelogram, we need to know the base and the height. The base is any one of the sides, and the height is the perpendicular distance from the base to the opposite side. The area of a parallelogram is the product of the length of the base and the height, or

A = b h

For example, if a parallelogram has a base of

12 cm

and a height of

9 cm

, its area is

A = 12 \times 9 = 108

square centimeters.

How do we find the area of a triangle?

A triangle is a three-sided shape with three angles. A triangle is also half of a parallelogram.

To find the area of a triangle, we need to know the base and the height. The base is any one of the sides, and the height is the perpendicular distance from the base to the opposite vertex. Since a triangle is half of a parallelogram, the triangle's area is half of the parallelogram's area. The area of a triangle is

\frac{1}{2}

the product of the length of the base and the height, or

A = \frac{1}{2} b h

For example, if a triangle has a base of

10 cm

and a height of

8 cm

, its area is

A = \frac{1}{2} \times 10 \times 8 = 40

square centimeters.

How do we find the area of a composite figure?

A composite figure is a shape that is made up of two or more simpler shapes, like rectangles, triangles, circles, or other polygons. To find the area of a composite figure, we can use one of these strategies:

Split the composite figure into smaller shapes that we know how to find the area of, and then add up the areas of the smaller shapes.
Subtract the area of the unwanted parts from the area of a larger shape that contains the composite figure.
Use a formula or a rule that applies to the composite figure, if we know one.

For example, suppose we want to find the area of this composite figure.

We can divide it into a rectangle and a triangle, and then add up their areas:

The area of the rectangle is

A = 15 \times 12 = 180

square units. The area of the triangle is

A = \frac{1}{2} \times 9 \times 6 = 27

square units. The area of the composite figure is

A = 180 + 27 = 207

square units.

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