Max Maths, Year 6, Try it, Areas of compound shapes (3)

In the Max Maths programme for Year 6, students encounter a challenge that tests their understanding of areas of compound shapes. The task requires them to find the areas of various complex figures by decomposing them into simpler shapes, such as rectangles and triangles. For instance, one of the exercises might present a shape that is a combination of a rectangle attached to a triangle. Students must use their knowledge of how to calculate the area of each individual shape and then combine these areas to determine the total area of the compound shape.

To solve these problems, students need to identify the dimensions of each part of the compound shape. For example, they might be given a rectangle with a length of 13 cm and a width of 10 cm, alongside a triangle with a base of 4 cm and a height of 7 cm. By applying the formula for the area of a rectangle (length x width) and the formula for the area of a triangle (base x height divided by 2), students can calculate the area of each section. After finding the areas of all individual parts, they sum them up to find the total area of the compound shape. For further practice and detailed explanations, students are directed to refer to workbook pages 205 to 209.