Answer:
72cm^2
Explanation:
Think of the whole figure as 3 rectangles. Your first one has an area of 8cm*3cm=24cm^2, your second one has an area of (12cm-3cm-3cm)*(8cm-4cm)=6cm*4cm=24cm^2, and your third one has an area of 8cm*3cm=24cm^2. Adding all of the areas together, we have 24cm^2+24cm^2+24cm^2=72cm^2 as the total area of the figure.