1. **State the problem:** We need to find the coordinates of the center, C, of a rectangle given its bottom-left corner at $ (8, -4) $ and top-right corner at $ (16, 10) $. 2. **Formula used:** The center (or midpoint) of a rectangle can be found by averaging the x-coordinates and the y-coordinates of opposite corners. $$ C_x = \frac{x_1 + x_2}{2}, \quad C_y = \frac{y_1 + y_2}{2} $$ 3. **Apply the formula:** $$ C_x = \frac{8 + 16}{2} = \frac{24}{2} = 12 $$ $$ C_y = \frac{-4 + 10}{2} = \frac{6}{2} = 3 $$ 4. **Interpretation:** The center of the rectangle is at the point $ (12, 3) $. This point is exactly halfway between the two given corners along both the x and y axes. 5. **Final answer:** The coordinates of the center, C, of the rectangle are $ \boxed{(12, 3)} $.