To find the area of the shaded shape in the image, we need to count the number of blue squares. Each square represents 1 square unit.

Let's break down the shape:

1. The bottom row (full row): 9 squares.
2. The next row up: 7 squares.
3. The next row: 5 squares.
4. The next row: 3 squares.
5. The next row: 1 square.

So, the total area is the sum of these squares:

$9 + 7 + 5 + 3 + 1 = 25 \text{ square units}$

Thus, the area of the shaded shape is 25 square units.

Do you want more details or have any questions?

Here are five related questions:

1. How do you find the area of composite shapes made of rectangles and triangles?
2. What strategies can be used to find the area of irregular shapes?
3. How can you calculate the area if the squares were not whole, but fractions?
4. How does the concept of area apply to real-world problems?
5. What is the difference between calculating area and perimeter?

Tip: When calculating the area of irregular shapes on a grid, it’s helpful to break down the shape into smaller, more manageable parts.