Figure ABCD has vertices A(−3, 2), B(2, 2), C(2, −4), and D(−3, −2). What is the area of figure ABCD?
Look at the following diagram :
If you include point E as (2, - 2)....we have a rectangle ABED whose width = AB = 5 and height = BE = 4
So...its total area is just width * height = 5 * 4 = 20 sq units
And triangle DEC has a base DE = 5 and a height EC = 2....so its area is [ b * h ] / 2 = [ 5 * 2 ] / 2 = 10 / 2 = 5 sq units
So....the toal area is just 20 + 5 = 25 sq units
Graphing is technically not necessary to solve the problem as you could be aware of the conditions of the different types of quadrilaterals, but doing so helps the solving process immensely.