To find the area of the whole figure, we can divide it into two rectangles, the smaller rectangle has dimensions of 5 inches by 8 inches.
![A_(small)=5in*8in=40in^2](https://img.qammunity.org/2023/formulas/mathematics/high-school/q6c1syosw9de8d5i3k0iyrguvt8a6or8uq.png)
The bigger rectangle has dimensions of 9 inches by 15 inches.
![A_(bigger)=9in*15in=135in^2](https://img.qammunity.org/2023/formulas/mathematics/high-school/6lh6zl6v2kg1foz7mecc3obhyiki54hsov.png)
Then, we add
![A=40+135=175in^2](https://img.qammunity.org/2023/formulas/mathematics/high-school/n2lg704nueycy9xf4ioyeqhbu46qw4fq9v.png)
Hence, the area of the figure is 175 square inches.