composite shapes

A composite shape or compound shape is a 2-dimensional (2D) or 3-dimensional (3D) shape that is a combination of more than one geometrical shape.

You can break down the shape into more simple shapes and calculate the area or volume of each shape separately and then add the area or volume together.

Sometimes a shape has been cut out or removed from another shape and you need to work out the area or volume and subtract this away from the larger area or volume.