Area of Rectangle & Complex Shapes Practice Problems

Master rectangle area calculations and decompose complex shapes into familiar rectangles. Practice with step-by-step examples and build confidence solving geometry problems.

📚Practice Calculating Areas of Rectangles and Complex Shapes
  • Calculate rectangle area using length × width formula
  • Decompose complex shapes into familiar rectangles
  • Apply rectangle properties to find missing dimensions
  • Add and subtract rectangle areas in composite shapes
  • Solve real-world rectangle area word problems
  • Master the puzzle method for complex shape areas

Understanding Area of a Rectangle

Complete explanation with examples

How do we calculate the area of complex shapes?

When students hear the words "compound shapes", they usually feel uncomfortable. Just before you also ask yourself: "Oh, why this again?", you should be aware that there is no real reason. Describing shapes as compound doesn't really make them so. As it turns out calculating areas and perimeters of compound shapes is in fact relatively straightforward.

You will be introduced to Complex shapes only after you learn various shapes in geometry. The reason these shapes are complex is due to the fact that they are slightly different from those you've come to know. In each complex shape, additional shapes that you need to identify are hidden. Dividing the complex shape into several different (and familiar) shapes will allow you to answer the question of how to calculate the area of complex shapes.

The trick: extract a familiar shape from within the complex shape

So how do we answer the question of how to calculate the area of complex shapes? First, you need to identify familiar shapes within the complex shape. An example of this: a rectangle. As you know, each shape has properties that you are familiar with, so within the complex shape itself, you can apply the properties of the familiar shape and thus calculate areas and perimeters.

After completing the missing data (according to the properties of each shape, for example: rectangle), you can complete the "puzzle", identify additional data that is revealed to you, and thus calculate the area of the complex shape. When calculating the area of complex shapes, you will often need to perform simple arithmetic operations such as division and addition (mainly for sides in the shape) - all based on the unique properties of each shape.

Two composite shapes labeled with side lengths. • Left shape: A 'house-like' figure formed by a rectangle (4 units wide and 4 units high) with a triangle on top (two equal sides of 6 units, base 4 units). • Right shape: An L-shaped polygon composed of rec

Detailed explanation

Practice Area of a Rectangle

Test your knowledge with 124 quizzes

The trapezoid ABCD is shown below.

Base AB = 6 cm

Base DC = 10 cm

Height (h) = 5 cm

Calculate the area of the trapezoid.

666101010h=5h=5h=5AAABBBCCCDDD

Examples with solutions for Area of a Rectangle

Step-by-step solutions included
Exercise #1

Look at the rectangle ABCD below.

Side AB is 6 cm long and side BC is 4 cm long.

What is the area of the rectangle?
666444AAABBBCCCDDD

Step-by-Step Solution

Remember that the formula for the area of a rectangle is width times height

 

We are given that the width of the rectangle is 6

and that the length of the rectangle is 4

 Therefore we calculate:

6*4=24

Answer:

24 cm²

Video Solution
Exercise #2

Look at the rectangle ABCD below.

Side AB is 4.5 cm long and side BC is 2 cm long.

What is the area of the rectangle?
4.54.54.5222AAABBBCCCDDD

Step-by-Step Solution

We begin by multiplying side AB by side BC

We then substitute the given data and we obtain the following:

4.5×2=9 4.5\times2=9

Hence the area of rectangle ABCD equals 9

Answer:

9 cm²

Video Solution
Exercise #3

Look at rectangle ABCD below.

Side AB is 10 cm long and side BC is 2.5 cm long.

What is the area of the rectangle?
1010102.52.52.5AAABBBCCCDDD

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's begin by multiplying side AB by side BC

If we insert the known data into the above equation we should obtain the following:

10×2.5=25 10\times2.5=25

Thus the area of rectangle ABCD equals 25.

Answer:

25 cm²

Video Solution
Exercise #4

The triangle ABC is given below.
AC = 10 cm

AD = 3 cm

BC = 11.6 cm
What is the area of the triangle?

11.611.611.6101010333AAABBBCCCDDD

Step-by-Step Solution

The triangle we are looking at is the large triangle - ABC

The triangle is formed by three sides AB, BC, and CA.

Now let's remember what we need for the calculation of a triangular area:

(side x the height that descends from the side)/2

Therefore, the first thing we must find is a suitable height and side.

We are given the side AC, but there is no descending height, so it is not useful to us.

The side AB is not given,

And so we are left with the side BC, which is given.

From the side BC descends the height AD (the two form a 90-degree angle).

It can be argued that BC is also a height, but if we delve deeper it seems that CD can be a height in the triangle ADC,

and BD is a height in the triangle ADB (both are the sides of a right triangle, therefore they are the height and the side).

As we do not know if the triangle is isosceles or not, it is also not possible to know if CD=DB, or what their ratio is, and this theory fails.

Let's remember again the formula for triangular area and replace the data we have in the formula:

(side* the height that descends from the side)/2

Now we replace the existing data in this formula:

CB×AD2 \frac{CB\times AD}{2}

11.6×32 \frac{11.6\times3}{2}

34.82=17.4 \frac{34.8}{2}=17.4

Answer:

17.4

Video Solution
Exercise #5

What is the area of the given triangle?

555999666

Step-by-Step Solution

This question is a bit confusing. We need start by identifying which parts of the data are relevant to us.

Remember the formula for the area of a triangle:

A1- How to find the area of a triangleThe height is a straight line that comes out of an angle and forms a right angle with the opposite side.

In the drawing we have a height of 6.

It goes down to the opposite side whose length is 5.

And therefore, these are the data points that we will use.

We replace in the formula:

6×52=302=15 \frac{6\times5}{2}=\frac{30}{2}=15

Answer:

15

Video Solution

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you find the area of a rectangle?

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The area of a rectangle is calculated using the formula: Area = length × width. Simply multiply the length by the width to get the total area in square units.

What is the easiest way to find the area of complex shapes?

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Break down complex shapes into familiar shapes like rectangles. Identify the rectangles within the complex shape, calculate each rectangle's area separately, then add or subtract these areas as needed.

How do you calculate missing dimensions in rectangle problems?

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Use the properties of rectangles: opposite sides are equal. If you know some dimensions, use addition and subtraction to find missing measurements based on the overall shape dimensions.

What are composite shapes in geometry?

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Composite shapes (also called compound shapes) are figures made up of two or more basic shapes combined together. They can be solved by breaking them into rectangles, triangles, or other familiar shapes.

Why do students struggle with complex shape area problems?

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Students often feel overwhelmed because complex shapes look complicated. The key is recognizing that these are just combinations of simple shapes you already know how to solve.

What math operations are needed for rectangle area problems?

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You'll primarily use: 1) Multiplication (length × width), 2) Addition (combining areas), 3) Subtraction (removing overlapping areas), 4) Basic arithmetic to find missing dimensions.

How do you solve L-shaped area problems?

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Divide the L-shape into two rectangles. Calculate each rectangle's area using length × width, then add the two areas together for the total area of the L-shaped figure.

What are common mistakes when calculating rectangle areas?

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Common errors include: mixing up length and width, forgetting to include units, adding dimensions instead of multiplying them, and not properly identifying rectangles within complex shapes.

More Area of a Rectangle Questions

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Practice by Question Type

Applying the formula Calculate The Missing Side based on the formula Calculation using percentages Finding Area based off Perimeter and Vice Versa Identifying and defining elements Subtraction or addition to a larger shape Using additional geometric shapes Using external height Using Pythagoras' theorem Using ratios for calculation Using variables Verifying whether or not the formula is applicable Applying the formula Calculate The Missing Side based on the formula Calculating in two ways Finding Area based off Perimeter and Vice Versa Using additional geometric shapes Using congruence and similarity Using external height Using Pythagoras' theorem Using ratios for calculation Using variables Verifying whether or not the formula is applicable Applying the formula A shape consisting of several shapes (requiring the same formula) Calculate The Missing Side based on the formula Calculation using the diagonal Extended distributive law Finding Area based off Perimeter and Vice Versa Subtraction or addition to a larger shape Using additional geometric shapes Using Pythagoras' theorem Using ratios for calculation Using short multiplication formulas Using variables Worded problems Applying the formula Calculate The Missing Side based on the formula Finding Area based off Perimeter and Vice Versa How many times does the shape fit inside of another shape? Subtraction or addition to a larger shape Suggesting options for terms when the formula result is known Using additional geometric shapes Using Pythagoras' theorem Using ratios for calculation Using variables Applying the formula Ascertaining whether or not there are errors in the data Calculate The Missing Side based on the formula Calculating in two ways Express using Extended distributive law Finding Area based off Perimeter and Vice Versa How many times does the shape fit inside of another shape? Identifying and defining elements Subtraction or addition to a larger shape Using additional geometric shapes Using congruence and similarity Using decimal fractions Using Pythagoras' theorem Using ratios for calculation Using variables Worded problems