Area of Composite Figure Calculator (Rectangle + Triangle)
Use this calculator to determine the total area of a composite figure made up of a main rectangle and an attached triangle. This is common for shapes like a house profile or a simple shed.
function calculateCompositeArea() {
var rectLengthInput = document.getElementById("rectLength").value;
var rectWidthInput = document.getElementById("rectWidth").value;
var triBaseInput = document.getElementById("triBase").value;
var triHeightInput = document.getElementById("triHeight").value;
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("resultArea");
// Validate inputs
if (isNaN(rectLengthInput) || isNaN(rectWidthInput) || isNaN(triBaseInput) || isNaN(triHeightInput) ||
rectLengthInput === "" || rectWidthInput === "" || triBaseInput === "" || triHeightInput === "") {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter valid numbers for all dimensions.";
return;
}
var rectLength = parseFloat(rectLengthInput);
var rectWidth = parseFloat(rectWidthInput);
var triBase = parseFloat(triBaseInput);
var triHeight = parseFloat(triHeightInput);
if (rectLength < 0 || rectWidth < 0 || triBase < 0 || triHeight < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Dimensions cannot be negative.";
return;
}
// Calculate area of the rectangle
var areaRectangle = rectLength * rectWidth;
// Calculate area of the triangle
var areaTriangle = 0.5 * triBase * triHeight;
// Calculate total composite area
var totalArea = areaRectangle + areaTriangle;
resultDiv.innerHTML = "
A composite figure is a shape that is made up of two or more basic geometric shapes. Calculating the area of such figures involves breaking them down into their simpler components, calculating the area of each component, and then adding (or sometimes subtracting) these individual areas to find the total area.
What is a Composite Figure?
Imagine a shape that isn't a perfect square, circle, or triangle, but rather a combination of these. For example, a house outline (a rectangle with a triangle roof), an 'L' shaped room (two rectangles), or a running track (a rectangle with two semicircles at the ends). These are all composite figures.
How to Calculate the Area of Composite Figures
The general strategy for finding the area of a composite figure is as follows:
Decomposition: Break down the complex figure into simpler, recognizable geometric shapes (e.g., rectangles, triangles, circles, trapezoids).
Identify Dimensions: Determine the necessary dimensions (length, width, base, height, radius) for each of the simpler shapes. You might need to infer some dimensions from the overall figure.
Calculate Individual Areas: Use the standard area formulas for each of the simpler shapes.
Sum or Subtract Areas: Add the areas of the component shapes if they form the total figure, or subtract areas if one shape represents a "hole" or a part removed from another.
Example: Rectangle with an Attached Triangle
Our calculator focuses on a common composite figure: a rectangle with a triangle attached to one of its sides. This configuration is often seen in architectural drawings or simple object designs.
The formula used by this calculator is:
Total Area = (Area of Rectangle) + (Area of Triangle)
Where:
Area of Rectangle = Length × Width
Area of Triangle = 0.5 × Base × Height
Let's walk through an example:
Consider a composite figure with the following dimensions:
Main Rectangle: Length = 12 units, Width = 6 units
Attached Triangle: Base = 6 units, Height = 4 units
Step 1: Calculate the area of the rectangle.
Area of Rectangle = 12 units × 6 units = 72 square units
Step 2: Calculate the area of the triangle.
Area of Triangle = 0.5 × 6 units × 4 units = 12 square units
Step 3: Add the areas together to find the total composite area.
Total Area = 72 square units + 12 square units = 84 square units
Using the calculator above, you can quickly find the area for various dimensions of this specific composite figure, making your calculations efficient and accurate.