How do you find the area of a compound shape, given its dimensions?

To find the area of the compound figure, we will decompose it into several simpler shapes: rectangles and triangles.

Let's break down the figure into distinct parts:

1. Bottom Vertical Rectangle (R1):

   • This is the lowest vertical bar.
   • Width = $2 \text{ yd}$
   • Height = $8 \text{ yd}$
   • Area R1 = $2 \text{ yd} \times 8 \text{ yd} = 16 \text{ yd}^2$

2. Middle Horizontal Rectangle (R2):

   • This is the horizontal bar directly above R1.
   • Its height is given as $2 \text{ yd}$.