Mini-Golf Course Builders: Split, Multiply, and Add

Find the area of L-, T-, and U-shaped putting greens by breaking them into rectangles.

Greens split into rectangles

Each green is split into rectangles. Find the area of each part. Then add the parts.

Hole 1 is shaped like an L. Each small square is 1 square foot.

Part A: 3 × 6 = square feet
Part B: 4 × 3 = square feet
Whole green: square feet

Hole 2 is shaped like a T.

Part A: square feet
Part B: square feet
Whole green: square feet

Hole 3 is shaped like a U. Each small square is 1 square foot.

Which shows a correct way to find the area of the whole green?

A. 7 × 5 = 35 square feetB. (2 × 5) + (3 × 2) = 16 square feetC. (2 × 5) + (3 × 3) + (2 × 5) = 29 square feetD. (2 × 5) + (3 × 2) + (2 × 5) = 26 square feet

Different ways to split

There is more than one way to split a green into rectangles.

Mia splits Hole 4 into parts A and B.

Part A: square feet
Part B: square feet
Mia's total: square feet

Kofi splits the same green a different way. His top piece is 2 feet wide and 3 feet tall. His bottom piece is 6 feet wide and 2 feet tall.

Top piece: 2 × 3 = square feet
Bottom piece: 6 × 2 = square feet
Kofi's total: square feet

Compare Mia's total and Kofi's total for Hole 4. Which is true?

A. Mia's way gives more area because her part A is taller.B. Kofi's way gives more area because his bottom piece is longer.C. Both ways give the same area because they cover the same green.D. Only one of them can be right because a shape can be split only one way.

Each small square is 1 square foot. Match each green to its area.

Build your own course

Use what you know to plan and check mini-golf greens.

Turf comes in squares that are 1 foot on each side. Ms. Park needs to cover Hole 8 with turf.

Part A needs squares of turf.
Part B needs squares of turf.
In all, Ms. Park needs squares of turf.

Eli looks at Hole 9. He says the area is 7 × 5 = 35 square feet because the green is 7 feet wide and 5 feet tall.

What mistake did Eli make? Find the correct area.

10.

Design your own hole. Shade a green made of two rectangles that covers exactly 12 square feet. Each small square is 1 square foot.