9514 1404 393
Answer:
40.5 square inches
Step-by-step explanation:
The figure appears to be a trapezoid with bases 15 inches and 12 inches, and a height of 3 inches. The formula for the area of a trapezoid is useful in this case:
A = 1/2(b1 +b2)h
A = (1/2)(15 in +12 in)(3 in) = (1/2)(27 in)(3 in) = 40.5 in²
The area of the composite figure is 40.5 square inches.
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Additional comment
You get the same answer if you divide the figure into a rectangle and a triangle. The rectangle is 3 in high by 12 in long, so has an area of ...
A = bh = (12 in)(3 h) = 36 in²
The triangle has a base of (15 -12) = 3 in, and a height of 3 in. It has an area of ...
A = 1/2bh = 1/2(3 in)(3 in) = 4.5 in²
Then the total area is the sum of the rectangle and triangle areas:
figure area = 36 in² +4.5 in² = 40.5 in²
