How To: Calculate the area of complex shapes

Watch this video to learn how to calculate the area inside complex figures--shapes composed of multiple smaller, simpler shapes. The first step is to break the shape into its simpler component shapes. Then, using the information you have about the large shape, find all information you can about the smaller ones: base, height, etc. Next, find the areas of the smaller component shapes. Finally, add the areas of each of the component shapes together to find the area of the complex shape. Now you know how to calculate the area of a complex shape!