Ms. friedman and mrs. elliot both teach sixth grade math. they share a storage closet. what is the total area of both rooms and the storage closet.

Total area of both rooms and the storage = 2844 ft^2

Explanation:
Total area would initially be the summation of the area of Ms. Friedman's room and storage added to Mrs. Elliot's room and storage.
However, we are given that the storage is shared.
So now, the total area would be equal to Ms. Friedman's room and storage + Mrs. Elliot's room and storage - area of closet

Now, we can notice that:
Ms. Friedman's room and storage = Mrs. Elliot's room and storage

Therefore:
Total area = 2*Ms. Friedman's room and storage - area of storage

1- getting area of Ms. Friedman's room and storage:
length = 36 ft 
width = 40 ft
area of Ms. Friedman's room and storage = length * width
area of Ms. Friedman's room and storage = 36 * 40
area of Ms. Friedman's room and storage = 1440 ft^2

2- getting area of closet:
length = 36 - 30 = 6 ft
width = 40 - 34 = 6 ft
area of closet = length * width
area of closet = 6 * 6 = 36 ft^2

3- total area of both rooms and the storage:
Total area = 2*Ms. Friedman's room and storage - area of storage
Total area = 2*1440 - 36 
Total area = 2844 ft^2

Hope this helps :)