Area of Irregular Figures
Warm Up
Problem of the Day
Lesson Presentation
Lesson Quizzes
Area of Irregular Figures
Warm Up
Find the area of the following figures.
1. A triangle with a base of 12.4 m and a
height of 5 m 31 m2
2. A parallelogram with a base of 36 in. and
a height of 15 in. 540 in2
3. A square with side lengths of 2.05 yd
4.2025 yd2
Area of Irregular Figures
Problem of the Day
3
It takes a driver about second to begin
4
breaking after seeing something in the
road. How many feet does a car travel in
that time if it is going 10 mph? 20 mph?
30 mph?
11 ft; 22 ft; 33 ft
Area of Irregular Figures
Learn to find the area of irregular figures.
Area of Irregular Figures
Vocabulary
composite figure
Area of Irregular Figures
A composite figure is made up of simple
geometric shapes, such as triangles and
rectangles. You can find the area of an
irregular figure by separating it into non-
overlapping familiar figures. The sum of
the areas of these figures is the area of
the irregular figure. You can also estimate
the area of an irregular figure by using
graph paper.
Area of Irregular Figures
Additional Example 1: Estimating the Area of an
Irregular Figure
Estimate the area of the figure. Each square
represents one square yard.
Count the number of filled or
almost-filled squares: 45 squares.
Count the number of squares that
are about half-full: 10 squares.
Add the number of filled squares plus
½ the number of half-filled
squares: 45 + ( 1 • 10) = 45 + 5 =50
2
The area of the figure is about 50 yd2.
Area of Irregular Figures
Check It Out: Example 1
Estimate the area of the figure. Each square
represents one square yard.
Count the number of filled or
almost-filled squares: 11 red
squares.
Count the number of squares that
are about half-full: 8 green squares.
Add the number of filled squares plus
½ the number of half-filled
squares: 11 + ( 1 • 8) = 11 + 4 =15.
2
2
The area of the figure is about 15 yd .
Area of Irregular Figures
Additional Example 2: Finding the Area of an
Irregular Figure
Find the area of the irregular figure. Use 3.14
for . Step 1: Separate the figure into
16 m smaller, familiar figures.
Step 2: Find the area of each
9m
smaller figure.
16 m Area of the parallelogram:
A = bh Use the formula for the
area of a parallelogram.
A = 16 • 9 Substitute 16 for b.
Substitute 9 for h.
A = 144
Area of Irregular Figures
Additional Example 2 Continued
Find the area of the irregular figure. Use 3.14
for .
16 m Area of the semicircle:
9m The area of a semicircle
1
__
A= (r) 1
2 is the area of a circle.
16 m 2
1
__
A≈ (3.14 • 82) Substitute 3.14 for
2 and 8 for r.
1
__
A≈ (200.96)
2
A ≈ 100.48 Multiply.
Area of Irregular Figures
Additional Example 2 Continued
Find the area of the irregular figure. Use 3.14
for .
Step 3: Add the area to find the
16 m total area.
9m A ≈ 144 + 100.48 = 244.48
16 m The area of the figure is about
244.48 m2.
Area of Irregular Figures
Check It Out: Example 2
Find the area of the irregular figure. Use 3.14
for .
Step 1: Separate the figure into
smaller, familiar figures.
9 yd Step 2: Find the area of each
smaller figure.
9 yd
Area of the rectangle:
8 yd
A = lw Use the formula for the
area of a rectangle.
3 yd
A=8 • 9 Substitute 8 for l.
Substitute 9 for w.
A = 72
Area of Irregular Figures
Check It Out: Example 2 Continued
Find the area of the irregular figure. Use 3.14
for .
Area of the triangle:
9 yd
The area of a triangle
1
__
9 yd A = bh 1
2 is the b • h.
2
8 yd 1
__
A= (2 • 9) Substitute 2 for b and
2 9 for h.
2 yd
1
__
A= (18)
2
A=9 Multiply.
Area of Irregular Figures
Check It Out: Example 2 Continued
Find the area of the irregular figure. Use 3.14
for .
Step 3: Add the area to find the total area.
A = 72 + 9 = 81
The area of the figure is about 81 yd2.
Area of Irregular Figures
Additional Example 3: Problem Solving
Application
The Wrights want to tile their entry with
one-square-foot tiles. How much tile will
they need?
5 ft
8 ft
t
4 ft
7 ft
Area of Irregular Figures
Additional Example 3 Continued
1 Understand the Problem
Rewrite the question as a statement.
• Find the amount of tile needed to cover the
entry floor.
List the important information:
• The floor of the entry is an irregular shape.
• The amount of tile needed is equal to the
area of the floor.
Area of Irregular Figures
Additional Example 3 Continued
2 Make a Plan
Find the area of the floor by separating the
figure into familiar figures: a rectangle and a
trapezoid. Then add the areas of the rectangle
and trapezoid to find the total area.
5 ft
8 ft
t
4 ft
7 ft
Area of Irregular Figures
Additional Example 3 Continued
3 Solve
Find the area of each smaller figure.
Area of the rectangle: Area of the trapezoid:
1
A = lw A = __ h(b1 + b2)
2
A=8•5 1
A = __ • 4(5 + 7)
2
A = 40
1
__
Add the areas to A = • 4 (12)
2
find the total area.
A = 24
A = 40 + 24 = 64
The Wrights’ need 64 ft2 of tile.
Area of Irregular Figures
Additional Example 3 Continued
4 Look Back
The area of the entry must be greater than
the area of the rectangle (40 ft2), so the
answer is reasonable.
Area of Irregular Figures
Check It Out: Example 3
The Franklins want to wallpaper the wall
of their daughters loft. How much
wallpaper will they need?
5
18 ft ft
6 ft
23 ft
Area of Irregular Figures
Check It Out: Example 3 Continued
1 Understand the Problem
Rewrite the question as a statement.
• Find the amount of wallpaper needed to
cover the loft wall.
List the important information:
• The wall of the loft is an irregular shape.
• The amount of wallpaper needed is equal to
the area of the wall.
Area of Irregular Figures
Check It Out: Example 3 Continued
2 Make a Plan
Find the area of the wall by separating the
figure into familiar figures: a rectangle and a
triangle. Then add the areas of the rectangle
and triangle to find the total area.
5
18 ft ft
6 ft
23 ft
Area of Irregular Figures
Check It Out: Example 3 Continued
3 Solve
Find the area of each smaller figure.
Area of the rectangle: Area of the triangle:
A = lw 1
A = __ bh
2
A = 18 • 6
1
__
A = (5 • 11)
A = 108 2
Add the areas to 1
__
A = (55)
find the total area. 2
A = 108 + 27.5 = 135.5 A = 27.5
The Franklins need 135.5 ft2 of wallpaper.
Area of Irregular Figures
Check It Out: Example 3 Continued
4 Look Back
The area of the wall must be greater than
the area of the rectangle (108 ft2), so the
answer is reasonable.
Area of Irregular Figures
Lesson Quizzes
Standard Lesson Quiz
Lesson Quiz for Student Response Systems
Area of Irregular Figures
Lesson Quiz
Find the perimeter and area of each figure.
1. 31.42 cm, 62.13 cm2
2.
39.1 ft, 84 ft2
Area of Irregular Figures
Lesson Quiz for Student Response Systems
1. Identify the perimeter and area of the
figure.
A. 50 cm; 42 cm2
B. 50 cm; 54 cm2
C. 34 cm; 54 cm2
D. 34 cm; 42 cm2
Area of Irregular Figures
Lesson Quiz for Student Response Systems
2. Identify the perimeter and area of the
figure.
A. 14.85 in.; 31.63 in2
B. 22.7 in.; 31.63 in2
C. 14.85 in.; 15.81 in2
D. 22.7 in.; 15.81 in2
