The basic unit of area is a centimetre square.

 

 

 

 

Example 1

Calculate the area of this shape, made of centimetre squares and half squares.

 

 

Answer

There are 10 full squares and 2 half squares.

Area = 10 × 1 + 2 × 0.5 = 10 + 1 = 11 cm²

 

 

Example 2

Calculate the area of this shape, made of centimetre squares and half squares.

 

 

Answer

The area of a rectangle = length × width

Area of rectangle = 3 × 2 = 6 cm²

Area of triangle, which is half a square = 0.5 cm²

Area of shape = 6 + 0.5 = 6.5 cm²

 

Let's practise this in the questions that follow.