Max Maths, Year 6, Work Book, Areas of compound shapes (2)

In the Max Maths Year 6 Workbook, students are challenged with practical word problems that involve calculating areas of compound shapes. Practice 5 focuses on real-life scenarios to enhance their understanding and application of mathematical concepts. The first problem presents a scenario where a kitchen wall is tiled with square tiles, each with an area of 100 cm². Students are tasked with determining the side length of a single tile, ensuring they include the correct units of length in their answer. They are then asked to calculate the total area of the kitchen wall, given that 250 tiles were used, and finally, to suggest three possible sets of dimensions for the rectangular kitchen wall, demonstrating an understanding of the relationship between area and the dimensions of shapes.

The second problem shifts to an agricultural context, where a dairy farmer aims to build a fence around an enclosure for his cows. With 120 meters of fencing at his disposal, the farmer seeks to create the largest possible area for the enclosure. Students must apply their knowledge of perimeter and area to determine the optimal dimensions for the fence, choosing between a square and a rectangular shape. This problem encourages students to explore how the shape of an enclosure affects its area and to use strategic thinking to maximize space within the given constraints of the fencing material.