Answer
52 sq in
Work Step by Step
The best way to find the area of a T shaped figure is to separately compute the area of the rectangle that forms the top of the T and the rectangle that forms the bottom of the T, and sum the two areas.
$8in \times 3in = 24 sq\ in$
$4in \times 7in = 28 sq\ in$
$24 sq\ in + 28 sq\ in = 52 sq\ in$