The image shows a composite shape made of two rectangles, and the goal is to find the area. We can break it down into two simpler parts:

1. Top Rectangle:

   • Width = 36 inches
   • Height = 36 inches
   • Area of the top rectangle = $36 \times 36 = 1296 \, \text{square inches}$

2. Bottom Rectangle:

   • Width = 72 inches
   • Height = 18 inches
   • Area of the bottom rectangle = $72 \times 18 = 1296 \, \text{square inches}$

Now, we add the areas of the two rectangles to get the total area:

$\text{Total Area} = 1296 \, \text{sq in} + 1296 \, \text{sq in} = 2592 \, \text{square inches}$

Thus, the total area of the shape is 2592 square inches.

Would you like more details or have any questions?

Here are five related questions:

1. How do you find the perimeter of this shape?
2. What would be the area if the top rectangle’s height were doubled?
3. How would the area change if the bottom rectangle's width were reduced by half?
4. How can you express the total area in square feet instead of square inches?
5. Can the shape be divided differently to find the area?

Tip: Breaking complex shapes into smaller rectangles or triangles is a helpful strategy to simplify area calculations.