Answer: 52.5cm²
Explanation:
Firs, you have to split this composite shape into two separate shapes; a rectangle and triangle.
To work out the area of the rectangle you would have to do 8x5=40.
To work out the area you would have to find out the height of it first. So, to do this you would have to do 1+2=3 then do 8-3=5. Now we know the height is 5.
Then you have to use the formula base times height divided by 2 (b×h/2). So 5×5=25 then 25÷2=12.5
To then find the total area of this composite shape you would have to add the two areas together. So 40+12.5=52.5cm²
Hope this helps :)