To find the volume of the given figure, let's break down the shape into manageable sections.

The figure resembles a staircase-like structure, with each "step" being a rectangular prism. Based on the measurements, we can identify three main prisms to calculate separately and then add their volumes together.

Step-by-Step Solution

1. Identify the Dimensions of Each Section:

   • Bottom section: Width = 12 ft, Height = 4 ft, Depth = 8 ft.
   • Middle section: Width = 12 ft, Height = 2 ft, Depth = 8 - 2 = 6 ft (since the top step reduces the depth by 2 ft).
   • Top section: Width = 12 ft, Height = 2 ft, Depth = 4 ft.

2. Calculate the Volume of Each Section:

   • Bottom section volume: $V_1 = \text{width} \times \text{height} \times \text{depth} = 12 \times 4 \times 8 = 384 \, \text{ft}^3$
   • Middle section volume: $V_2 = 12 \times 2 \times 6 = 144 \, \text{ft}^3$
   • Top section volume: $V_3 = 12 \times 2 \times 4 = 96 \, \text{ft}^3$

3. Add the Volumes Together: $\text{Total Volume} = V_1 + V_2 + V_3 = 384 + 144 + 96 = 624 \, \text{ft}^3$

Final Answer

The volume of the figure is 624 ft³.

Would you like further details or have any questions?

Here are some related questions to expand your understanding:

1. How would the volume change if the depth of each section varied?
2. What if the figure had a different number of steps with the same dimensions?
3. How would you calculate the surface area of this figure?
4. What if each section had different widths instead of depths?
5. How would this calculation change if the height of each section was different?

Tip: Breaking down complex figures into smaller, manageable shapes often simplifies volume calculations.