To calculate the area of any complex figure, we must split it into smaller simpler shapes to make it easier to calculate.
In this case, the whole shape is made up of a parallelogram and a triangle.
- Definition of parallelogram: a quadrilateral with two pairs of parallel sides
The parallelogram's area can be calculated by timing the base times the height
Parallelogram's area = 20 * 16 = 320 square inches
The triangle's area can be calculated by timing 1/2 times the base times the height.
Triangle's area = (1/2) * 20 * 8 = 80 square inches.
The total area of the complex shape is the area of parallelogram plus the area of the triangle:
Total area = Area of Parallelogram + Area of Triangle
= 320 square inches + 80 square inches
= 400 squares inches
Therefore the total area is 400 square inches
Hope that helped