In the figure on the right, assume that the distance between adjacent dots in a row or column is 1 unit. Determine the area of the figure.

To find the area of the figure, you first need to identify the shape or shapes formed by the dots. If we assume the dots outline a polygon, count the number of unit squares fully or partially contained within the shape. By determining the base and height (or using a formula like the shoelace theorem for irregular shapes), you can calculate the area with precision. Make sure to note any squares that may be only partially shaded to avoid overestimating the area! Once you’ve done that, consider checking your calculations by comparing the area derived from the vertices of the figure with the total count of included unit squares. This can help catch any common mistakes, like counting a square twice or failing to account for outliers. Happy calculating!