So once I have split the shape into a square and triangle how do I find the value of a and b to get c^2?
You're not splitting the shape into a 'square' and a triangle, a square is a very specific shape and not required in this question.
You're splitting the trapezium into a rectangle and a triangle.
You know the bottom width of the trapezium is 9cm. When you split it into the rectangle and triangle, both of their bottom widths must add up to 9. You also know the rectangle's bottom width because you can use other lengths as wells as facts on lengths of a rectangle to work that one out, hence take that away from 9 to get the bottom width of the triangle.
The height of the triangle is also straight forward because it is the same length as the right side of the rectangle.
You're not splitting the shape into a 'square' and a triangle, a square is a very specific shape and not required in this question.
You're splitting the trapezium into a rectangle and a triangle.
You know the bottom width of the trapezium is 9cm. When you split it into the rectangle and triangle, both of their bottom widths must add up to 9. You also know the rectangle's bottom width because you can use other lengths as wells as facts on lengths of a rectangle to work that one out, hence take that away from 9 to get the bottom width of the triangle.
The height of the triangle is also straight forward because it is the same length as the right side of the rectangle.
The lengths are in red. So how do I find the missing length?
The lengths are in red. So how do I find the missing length?
Do I use a^2 + b^2 = c^2 ?
If I sub the lengths into this like so I get 29cm
5^2 + 2^2 = 29
Correctly done. You get 29 because it is the length of the hypotenuse SQUARED. So since c2=29 and c is our wanted length, I'm sure you know what to do here to get it.
Correctly done. You get 29 because it is the length of the hypotenuse SQUARED. So since c2=29 and c is our wanted length, I'm sure you know what to do here to get it.
This attachment is my workings so far, how can I find the area of the square?