Figures that are composed of two or more polygons that are either adjacent or overlap are called composite figures. To find the area of one of these composite figures, break it down into figures that you do know how to find the area.

Let's look at the figure below:

In option 2 we divided the composite figure into two narrow rectangles, one long rectangle and a triangle, and there are four shapes to find the area of in order to find the area of the composite figure.

Pause and Reflect

Do you think that the figure in option 1 would have the same area as the figure in option 2? Explain your rationale for your answer.

Possible Response Yes, the two figures would have the same total area because they are both the same original figure. Area is the amount of flat space covered by an object, and the amount of space the figure covers does not change when it is carved into different figures.
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