When you ask a middle schooler what the area of a rectangle is, they’re quick with an answer— length × width , of course. But when you throw in a shape that looks like a Tetris piece or a hallway map? Cue the confused stares. That’s where composite figures come in. What Are Composite Figures? Composite figures  are shapes that are made up of two or more basic shapes—think rectangles, triangles, circles, or trapezoids—combined to form a more complex shape. For example, a house-shaped figure might be a rectangle with a triangle on top. These figures pop up everywhere in real life: architecture, design, floor plans—you name it. That’s why understanding how to break them apart and find their area is such a valuable skill. What Is the Area of the Composite Figure? To find the  area of a composite figure , students must break the shape into familiar parts, calculate the area of each part using known formulas, and then  add (or sometimes subtract)  those areas together. So,......