The overlapping portion should be shaded. There is a printing error.


¼ A is shaded. So we can treat total area of A as 4 units and shaded area as 1 unit.

Ratio of shaded A to unshaded A to total A
= 1 : 3 : 4


2/9 B is shaded. So we can treat total area of B as 9 units and shaded area as 2 units.

Ratio of shaded B to unshaded B to total B
= 2 : 7 : 9

Now the shaded area for both squares are common, so the number of units must be the same.

We can change the ratio for square A.

Multiply by 2,
Ratio of shaded A to unshaded A to total A
= 2 : 6 : 8

Now the shaded areas for both squares have the same number of units.


Total area of figure = unshaded A + unshaded B + shaded area

= 6 units + 7 units + 2 units
= 15 units

Percentage of figure that is shaded
= shaded/total x 100%
= 2 units/ 15 units x 100%
= 2/15 x 100%
= 13.333333.... %
= 13.3% (1d.p)