A badge is cut from two rectangles of card that do not overlap and are joined along one edge. One rectangle measures 6 centimetres by 4 centimetres and the other measures 3 centimetres by 2 centimetres. What is the total area of the badge?

Explanation

Each rectangle contributes its own product, 6 times 4 giving 24 and 3 times 2 giving 6, and because the pieces do not overlap those two amounts simply add together. Stopping at 24 records only the larger piece and quietly discards the smaller one, which still covers card of its own.