To find the area of this figure, let's break it down into two rectangles and calculate the area of each part separately.

Step-by-Step Solution:

1. Identify the two rectangles:

   • Rectangle A (top section): Width = 8 ft, Height = 5 ft
   • Rectangle B (bottom section): Width = 3 ft, Height = 9 ft

2. Calculate the area of each rectangle:

   • Area of Rectangle A: $8 \text{ ft} \times 5 \text{ ft} = 40 \text{ square feet}$
   • Area of Rectangle B: $3 \text{ ft} \times 9 \text{ ft} = 27 \text{ square feet}$

3. Sum the areas of both rectangles:

   • Total Area = $40 \text{ square feet} + 27 \text{ square feet} = 67 \text{ square feet}$

Answer:

The area of this figure is 67 square feet.

Would you like further details on this calculation, or have any questions?

Here are some related questions you might find helpful:

1. How do you identify different shapes within a composite figure for area calculation?
2. What is the difference between calculating the area of regular and irregular shapes?
3. How would the solution change if one side of the shape was missing?
4. How can we apply this method to other real-life shapes, like rooms or fields?
5. What units are commonly used when calculating area, and how do they affect the answer?

Tip: Breaking complex shapes into simpler ones makes it easier to calculate areas accurately.