To calculate the area you would have to view the figure as two separate shapes: 2 rectangles. Think that you a drawing an imaginary line in the gap between the two 5 inch segments to make a line of 15 inches in length. To solve, you would then start to multiply to find individual areas which then you add together to get the total area.
The first rectangle is 5 inches by 4 inches. If you remember correctly, you calculate the area of a rectangle by multiplying length * width.
5 inches * 4 inches= 20 inches ^2
The next rectangle is 15 by 2 inches, as you have to add the missing length in the middle to accurately calculate the length of the line.
15 inches * 2 inches= 30 inches ^2
Add them both together to get the answer:
30 inches ^2 + 20 inches ^2 = 50 inches ^2
