In Area on the Geoboard, we learned about square units and measuring area. Let's use the 1x1 square as our area measurement unit for the time being. Using this unit, try to measure the area of the geoboard shape below.
More Geoboard Areas
In Area on the Geoboard, we learned about square units and measuring area. Let's use the 1x1 square as our area measurement unit for the time being. Using this unit, try to measure the area of the geoboard shape below.
You may have noticed that the triangle doesn't divide nicely into squares or half-squares to make using our unit easy. We need to think a bit differently in cases like this. Students have devised various ways to deal with this. Here are a couple of examples...
This method is a use of the concept of Area Conservation. The area doesn't change if we cut up the shape and rearrange the pieces. Here is another method the students like to use:
Here are a few shapes to try your skill on...
Sometimes it's easier to look at what's in the parts of shape, or at what's not in the shape to find out the areas. Here are a couple of examples to illustrate these strategies.
These ideas will be explored in great depth throughout the Visual Mathematics/Math Alive! curriculum. Try to create some 'wild' shapes of your own to challenge yourself. Try finding the areas of the above shapes using different unit squares. Have fun!
