Area of Rectangles
Basics on the topic Area of Rectangles
Finding the Area of Squares and Rectangles
How many suitcases fit in the trunk of your parents’ car? To find out, you need to learn about finding the area of rectangles and squares.Finding the area of squares and rectangles is a simple process.
- The formula for finding area is area = length x width.
Finding the Area of Squares and Rectangles – Example
Let’s look at an example of a rectangle and how to find the area of our example rectangle. These are the steps to follow in order to find the area of the rectangle.
- First, you count the unit squares along the length.
- Then you count the unit squares along the width.
- Finally, you multiply the length by the width to find the area.
In the below example, the length is five, and the width is three. We multiply them to get fifteen, which is our area!
Finding the Area of Rectangles and Squares – Steps
These are the steps to follow when you need to find the area of a rectangle or a square:
| Step # | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Count the unit squares along the length. |
| 2 | Count the unit squares along the width. |
| 3 | Multiply the unit squares length by width to find the area. |
Using our example from earlier, this is how you use the formula to find the area of a square or a rectangle:
| Formula: | length | x | width | = area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Example: | 5 | x | 3 | = 15 |
Finding the Area of Rectangles and Squares – Summary
Remember, to find the area of rectangles and squares, use the formula area = length x width. Count the length, then count the width, and finally multiply them together to find the area. After watching the video, you will find area of rectangles and squares exercises and worksheets.
Transcript Area of Rectangles
Zuri and Freddie are getting ready to hunt for some new items for their home. They need help determining the area of some items, so they can decide if they will fit or not. To do this, we will find the area of rectangles. Area is the amount of space taken up by an object on a flat surface. To calculate the area of rectangles we can use a multiplication formula; area equals length times width. First, count the unit squares along the length, replacing length with this number. Next, count the unit squares along the width, replacing width with this number. There are five unit squares in every row and we have three rows, so we need to find five multiplied by three! That means we multiply the length by the width to find the area of the rectangle. Five multiplied by three is fifteen, so this rectangle would be fifteen square units. Let's calculate the area of Zuri and Freddie's home first so they know how much space they have. Here is the floor plan. Remember the formula; area equals length times width. First, count the unit squares along the length, which is six. Now count the unit squares along the width. Multiply six by four, which is twenty-four! Zuri and Freddie's home is twenty-four square units. It looks like Freddie has found a rug, so let's help find the area! Remember; area equals length times width. What is the first step? Count the unit squares along the length. How many unit squares is the length? It is seven. What is the next step? Count the unit squares along with the width. How many unit squares wide is the rug? It is four unit squares wide. Now calculate the area. What is seven times four? It is twenty-eight, so the rug has an area of twenty-eight square units! "Hmm, that's probably not going to fit because our home is only twenty-four square units. How about this?" Zuri found a coffee table, so let's calculate the area! The formula for calculating area still works here because a square is also a rectangle! Use the formula, area equals length times width. What is the multiplication sentence for the area of the coffee table? It is two times two. What is two times two? It is four, so the area of the coffee table is four square units! "That will fit perfectly, Zuri!" While Zuri and Freddie finish up, let's review. Remember, to calculate the area of rectangles you can use area equals length times width. First, count the unit squares along the length. Next, count the unit squares along the width. Finally, multiply the length by the width to find the area. "Freddie, what are you doing?" "The rug may not fit our home, but it sure makes a great royal cape to be king for a day!"
