Question

Here is a shape.
All the measurements are in metres.
The area of the shape is Am2.

Find a formula for A in terms of x.

Answer 1

There are 3 vertical sides here.  The longest and the  is 2x + 1, and the unmarked side is (2x + 1) - x = x + 1.

Draw a horiz. line thru and parallel to the shortest horiz. line.  This line which you have drawn separates the figure into two rectangles.

The area of the smaller rectangle is 5x.  The area of the larger rectangle is (x+1)*8.  Thus, the total area of the figure is A = 5x + 8x + 8, or

A = 13x + 8 (answer)