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Examples, worksheets, and solutions to help Grade 7 students learn how to find the area of composite figures that consist of rectangles.
Area of a Composite Figure
A composite figure (also known as a compound figure or composite shape) is a two-dimensional geometric figure made up of two or more basic geometric shapes. These basic shapes can include rectangles, squares, triangles, circles, semi-circles, trapezoids, parallelograms, etc.
Calculating the area of a composite figure involves breaking it down into these simpler, familiar shapes, calculating the area of each component, and then combining those areas appropriately.
The following figures show how to find the area of a composite figure. Scroll down the page for more examples and solutions.
Geometry Worksheets
Practice your skills with the following worksheets:
Printable & Online Geometry Worksheets
Steps to Calculate the Area of a Composite Figure:
Decompose the Figure:
Divide the complex figure into smaller, non-overlapping basic shapes (like rectangles, triangles, semi-circles).
Sometimes, you may need to calculate the area of the larger shape and then subtract the area of the “missing” part.
Identify Missing Dimensions:
Often, not all side lengths or heights will be directly given. You’ll need to use the given dimensions and the properties of the basic shapes (e.g., opposite sides of a rectangle are equal) to find any necessary missing measurements.
Calculate the Area of Each Basic Shape:
Use the standard area formulas for each of the simpler shapes you’ve identified. Make sure you know the formulas for common shapes:
Rectangle: A = length×width
Square: A = side2
Triangle: A = 1/2×base×height
Circle: A = πr2
Semi-circle: A = 1/2 πr2
Trapezoid: A = 1/2 (base1 + base2)×height
Combine the Areas:
Sum the areas of all the individual basic shapes. Or subtract the area of the “cut-out” section from the area of the larger shape.
State the Final Area with Units:
Always remember to include the appropriate square units
Videos
Area of Composite Shapes
This shows how to work out the area of composite rectangular shapes.
Perimeter and Area of Irregular Shapes
Area of Composite Figures (Rectangles)
Finding Shaded Area of Rectangular Shapes
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