Question

Bev has to cut her grandma's grass this weekend and wants to know exactly how much area she will be cutting. Calculate the area of the polygon. Be sure to show all your work.

Answer 1

let's start by dividing the shape into smaller, more regular shapes, and filling in missing side lengths

we can start with the base of figure 1, for example. the top side of the figure has length 19
the part off to the right is 4, so the missing component is 19 - 4 = 15

Answer 2

using the same logic for the other sides:

Answer 3

now, you have three shapes:

1. a triangle with base 15 and height 15
2. a rectangle with base 4 and height 15
3. a trapezoid with bases 14 and 10, and height 4

use the approrpiate formulas to find the areas of figures 1, 2, and 3, and add them up to find the composite area