The area of the shape is 72 square feet.
The given shape consists of a rectangular top portion and a triangular bottom left portion.
Let's break down the calculations.
For the rectangular top portion, the formula for the area of a rectangle is length times width.
In this case, the base of the rectangle is given as 12 feet, and the height is 8 feet.
Multiplying these values together, we get an area of 12 feet * 8 feet = 96 square feet.
Moving on to the triangular bottom left portion, the formula for the area of a triangle is (1/2) times the base times the height.
The base of the triangle is 4 feet, and the height is 9 feet.
Applying the formula, we find the area of the triangle to be (1/2) * 4 feet * 9 feet = 18 square feet.
To find the total area of the entire shape, we subtract the area of the triangle from the area of the rectangle: 96 square feet - 18 square feet = 78 square feet.
Therefore, the correct area of the shape is 78 square feet, not 72 square feet as stated in the previous calculation.
It's crucial to ensure accuracy in mathematical computations to obtain precise results.