The figure is made up of three squares: ABCK, DEJK, and FGHJ.<br><br>&bull; CD is the distance between vertex C of square ABCK and vertex D of square DEJK.<br>&bull; Squares ABCK and DEJK share vertex K.<br>&bull; CK = side of ABCK = 12 cm, and DK = side of DEJK = 7 cm.<br>&bull; C, D, and K lie on the same line. Since D is between C and K: CD = CK &minus; DK = 12 &minus; 7 = 5 cm.<br><br>Final Answer: CD = 5 cm