Area · Year 7
In Year 7 you learn: area of trapeziums.
Area is the amount of flat space a shape covers, measured in square units such as cm² and m². Count the squares, or use the formula for the shape; a compound shape splits into simpler shapes.
Key facts
- Rectangle: area = length × width; perimeter = 2 × (length + width).
- Triangle: area = ½ × base × perpendicular height.
- Parallelogram: area = base × perpendicular height.
- Trapezium: area = ½ × (a + b) × h, where a and b are the parallel sides.
- Compound shapes: split into rectangles (or subtract a missing piece). Use the same units throughout.
Worked examples
Example 1
Find the area of this L-shape. All corners are right angles; lengths are in cm.
Answer: 55 cm²
Example 2
A triangle has a base of 10 cm and a perpendicular height of 7 cm. Find its area.
Answer: 35 cm²
Example 3
A lawn 12 m by 8 m has a path 1 m wide all round it. Find the area of the path.
Answer: 44 m²
Example 4
A trapezium has parallel sides of 6 cm and 10 cm and a height of 5 cm. Find its area.
Answer: 40 cm²