Describe how you would find the area of the figure shown at the right.

I would find the area of the shape as if it were a rectangle (5x9) and then subtract the area of two triangles (1/2x2x2.5)

To find the area you first need to divide the shape into two parts, then find the area of the first half and then the second and add the areas together:

first part:

5 × 7 = 35cm²

second part:

2 × 5 / 2 =
10 ÷ 2 =
5cm²

then do:

35 + 5 = 40cm²

so the area of the shape is 40cm²