Lesson 3-1: Area of Complex Figures


See the directions on the right.

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Created with GeoGebra by Rachel Valcin (March 2007)

Directions


1. Find the area of this figure by identifying the area of each of the geometric shapes used to create it.

2. What can be said of line segments AC and CD?

3. What is the name of these two line segments?

4. Move point D so points A, C, and D are on the same line.
What is the value of AC + CD?
What are the two names for the line segment (AC + CD) shared by both geometric shapes?

5. What is the area of the figure when slider a is 6? 5? 4? 3? 2?

6. Compare the areas in question 5.
What can you say about the effect of slider a on the area of the figure?