What are compound shapes?

Compound shapes are two-dimensional shapes that are made up of two or more simple shapes. In this tutorial, we’ll explore what compound shapes are, how they are formed, and how to calculate the area and perimeter of compound shapes.

What are compound shapes?

Compound shapes are two-dimensional shapes that are made up of two or more simple shapes. They can be formed by combining simple shapes in various ways, such as by adding, subtracting, or overlapping them.

Compound shapes can have a variety of different shapes and sizes, and they are often used in geometry and other mathematical disciplines to represent real-world objects or concepts.

How are compound shapes formed?

There are several ways to form compound shapes, including:

• Adding simple shapes: Compound shapes can be formed by adding two or more simple shapes together. For example, a compound shape could be formed by adding a square and a triangle to create a shape that looks like a house.
• Subtracting simple shapes: Compound shapes can also be formed by subtracting one simple shape from another. For example, a compound shape could be formed by subtracting a small circle from a larger circle to create a shape that looks like a donut.
• Overlapping simple shapes: Compound shapes can also be formed by overlapping two or more simple shapes. For example, a compound shape could be formed by overlapping two circles to create a shape that looks like a figure eight.

Calculating the area and perimeter of compound shapes

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To calculate the area and perimeter of compound shapes, you need to decompose the compound shape into its individual simple shapes and calculate the area and perimeter of each simple shape.

For example, to calculate the area and perimeter of a compound shape that is made up of a rectangle and a triangle, you would first calculate the area and perimeter of the rectangle, and then calculate the area and perimeter of the triangle. Once you have the area and perimeter of each simple shape, you can add them together to find the total area and perimeter of the compound shape.

It is important to note that the method for calculating the area and perimeter of compound shapes may vary depending on the specific shapes and arrangements of the individual simple shapes.

Conclusion

Compound shapes are two-dimensional shapes that are made up of two or more simple shapes. They are formed by adding, subtracting, or overlapping simple shapes, and they can have a variety of different shapes and sizes. To calculate the area and perimeter of compound shapes, you need to decompose the compound shape into its individual simple shapes and calculate the area and perimeter of each simple shape. Understanding compound shapes is important for a variety of applications, including representing real-world objects and concepts and analyzing and designing structures and systems.