Question

The area of the shaded part of the figure below can be determined in different ways. Use

the drop-down menus to explain how to find the area by decomposing the figure into
rectangles or trapezoids.

Answer 1

The figure can be decomposed into two 5 in. by 1.5 in. and two 2 in. by 1.5 in. rectangles, or the figure can be decomposed into 4 trapezoids with heights of 1.5 in. and bases of 2 in. and 5 in.

Using either method, the total area of the shaded figure is 21 square inches.