Join Multiple Irregular Shapes

Prepare to be a 2D shape builder!

Look at the shapes below:

In this question type, we need to join these three shapes together to make a new shape.

Matching letters have to touch, so, in this example, both the sides labelled a have to be touching each other and both the sides labelled b have to be touching each other.

Which of the following options would the new shape look like?

a)         b)         c)

The trick is to imagine joining all of the shapes together, and then try rotating the entire new shape, to see if it matches one of the options.

If we join all of the shapes together, without rotating anything, it would look like this:

As this doesn’t match any of the options, let’s try rotating it to see if we can match it to anything.

If it is rotated a quarter turn in an anti-clockwise direction, it looks exactly like option b - bingo!

So the correct answer is b.

Let’s try another example now.

This one is more challenging as there are four shapes to join.

Look at the shapes below:

What would this shape look like if all the correct letters were joined together?

a)         b)         c) 

Remember to join them all together first and then try to rotate it.

If we imagine putting all of the shapes together with the corresponding letters, our shape would look like this:

As this doesn’t match any of the options, let’s try rotating it to see if we can match it to anything.

If it is rotated 180 degrees, it looks exactly like option b - job done!

So the correct answer is b.

Pssstt!! Here’s a handy hint to help you reach superstar status: remember to join the shapes first and then try to rotate your new shape to match one of the options.

It’s now your turn to join shapes together.

Good luck 2D shape builder!