Use the image to answer the question.
A composite figure is comprised of a rectangle and two congruent right triangle on either side. The triangle have a height of 4 inches and a width of 3 inches.
The composite shape in the image has an area of 40 square inches. What is the area of the rectangle within the composite shape?
(1 point)
Responses
7 square inches
7 square inches
16 square inches
16 square inches
28 square inches
28 square inches
34 square inches
The total area of the composite figure is the sum of the areas of the rectangle and the two congruent triangles. Since the total area is 40 square inches and each triangle has an area of (1/2) * base * height = (1/2) * 3 * 4 = 6 square inches, the area of the rectangle can be calculated as follows:
Total area - 2 * triangle area = rectangle area
40 - 2 * 6 = rectangle area
40 - 12 = rectangle area
28 = rectangle area
Therefore, the area of the rectangle within the composite shape is 28 square inches. The correct response is:
28 square inches