STRAND: Measurement

TOPIC: Area, volume & capacity

Area and perimeter of

composite figures
Composite figures are figures made up of a number of distinct shapes.
Area of a composite figure = sum of the areas of each individual shape
Perimeter of a composite figure = length around the outside edge of the composite figure

WORKED Example 1 WORKED Example 2

Calculate a the area and b the perimeter of Calculate a the area and b the perimeter of the
the following shape. following shape. State your answers correct to 2
16 cm decimal places.
10 cm

12 cm
30 m

15 m
24 cm
48 m

Solution Solution
The composite shape is made up of a rectangle The composite shape is made up of a semicircle and a
and a triangle. trapezium.
a Area = area of rectangle + area of triangle a Area = area of semicircle + area of trapezium
Area = length width + 1--2- base height Area = 1--2- r 2 + 1--2- (a + b)h
For the rectangle: For the semi circle:
Length = 16 cm, width = 12 cm r = 1--2- 30 = 15 mm
For the triangle: For the trapezium:
Base = 12 cm (same as width of rectangle), a = 30 mm, b = 48 mm and h = 15 mm.
Height = (24 16) = 8 cm So area = 1
--- 152 + 1
--- (30 + 48) 15
So area = 16 12 + 1--2- 12 8 2 2

So area = 192 + 48 So area = 353.43 + 585

So area = 240 cm2 So area = 938.43 mm2

b Perimeter = sum of the lengths of 5 sides b Perimeter = 1--2- (circumference of circle) +

Perimeter = 16 + 10 + 10 + 16 + 12
Perimeter = 3 side lengths of trapezium
Perimeter = 64 cm
To find missing side length of trapezium:
Let c = hypotenuse of right-angled triangle with
side lengths of 15 and 18
c2 = 152 + 182 (Using Pythagoras theorem)
= 225 + 324
= 549
c = 549
c = 23.43
So perimeter = 1--2- 2 r + 15 + 48 + 23.43
So perimeter = 15 + 86.43
So perimeter = 47.12 + 86.43
So perimeter = 133.55 mm

John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd 2001

STRAND: Measurement SKILLBUILDER: Area and perimeter
TOPIC: Area, volume & capacity
of composite figures
Try these
Calculate a the area and b the perimeter of each of the following shapes. State your answers correct to 2 decimal places where
appropriate.
1 18 m 2 10 cm
13 m
6 cm
10 m

18 cm
30 m

20 cm

3 4
35 cm
23 cm
7m

49 cm
9m
12 m

5 6
5 cm 7 cm
3 mm 3 mm

5 mm

3 mm 3 mm

15 mm

John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd 2001