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Success criteria: I can identify rectangles and parallelograms within a composite shape. I can choose a useful line to divide a composite shape into smaller shapes.
1. A composite shape is made from a rectangle and a parallelogram. Which strategy will help you find its total area?
Add the areas of the rectangle and parallelogram.
Add all the side lengths.
Multiply every measurement together.
Find only the perimeter.
2. Select all the measurements needed to find the area of a parallelogram.
Base
Perpendicular height
Sloping side length
Colour of the shape
3. A composite shape contains a rectangle measuring 9 cm by 4 cm and a parallelogram with a base of 6 cm and a perpendicular height of 3 cm. Write the two smaller shapes you would use to calculate the total area.
4. Draw a line to divide a composite shape into one rectangle and one parallelogram. Label the two smaller shapes.
Part 2: Calculate Composite Areas
Success criteria: I can calculate the area of rectangles and parallelograms. I can add the smaller areas and include the correct square units.
Remember: Area of a rectangle = length × width. Area of a parallelogram = base × perpendicular height.
5. A rectangle measures 8 cm by 5 cm. A parallelogram with a base of 8 cm and a perpendicular height of 3 cm is joined to it. Find the total area of the composite shape.
6. A rectangle measures 12 m by 4 m. A parallelogram with a base of 5 m and a perpendicular height of 4 m is joined to one side. Calculate the total area.
7. A composite shape is made from a rectangle measuring 10 cm by 3 cm and a parallelogram with a base of 4 cm and a perpendicular height of 5 cm. What is the total area?
8. A rectangle has an area of 42 cm². It is joined to a parallelogram with a base of 7 cm and a perpendicular height of 4 cm. Find the area of the composite shape.
9. The total area of a composite shape is 96 m². One rectangle has an area of 60 m². The remaining part is a parallelogram with a base of 9 m. What is its perpendicular height?
10. Explain how you know that the sloping side of a parallelogram is not always the measurement used in the area calculation.
