Question

Choose the best estimate for the area of the shaded region. Side lengths of grid squares are 1 inch

Answer 1

We know that the entire area (including the white spaces) is
`(5)(7)=35in^2`.

So, we can exclude any answers equal to or greater than 35 inches squared (1st option and 3rd option).

The best way to go about this (I think) is taking approximate "surface" areas of separate sections.

The first two columns of the grid form basically one line that's 4x1. On the bottom left corner, there's a square that's about 1x1. A section in the middle looks like a 4x3, and at the very far right it's about a 5x2.

Now that we have all these numbers, it's time to do our "surface area."

`(1)(1)+(4)(1)+(4)(3)+(5)(2)\\1+4+12+10\\5+22=27`

Although 27 is in the middle of 25 and 29, I think your safest bet is to go with
`29in^2`.