# #### Area of a Rectangle

$A=lw$

## How to Find the Area of a Rectangle

1. Identify the length and width of the rectangle.
2. Plug the side length measurements into the Area of a Rectangle Formula and simplify. ba

## Examples

Find the area of the rectangle.

What is the length and width of the rectangle?

The length of the rectangle is $$\blue 5 \, in$$.

The width of the rectangle is $$\blue 3 \, in$$.

What is the area of the rectangle?

When I plug $$\blue 5 \, in$$ and $$\blue 3 \, in$$ into the Area of a Rectangle Formula I get…

$A=({\blue 5 \, in})({\blue 3 \, in})$

When I simplify that, I get…

$A=\blue 15 \, in^2$

The area of the rectangle is $$\blue 15 \, in^2$$.

Find the area of the rectangle.

What is the length and width of the rectangle?

The length of the rectangle is $$\green \frac{4}{3} \, ft$$.

The width of the rectangle is $$\green \frac{1}{2} \, ft$$.

What is the area of the rectangle?

When I plug $$\green \frac{4}{3} \, ft$$ and $$\green \frac{1}{2} \, ft$$ into the Area of a Rectangle Formula I get…

$A=({\green \frac{4}{3} \, ft})({\green \frac{1}{2} \, ft})$

When I multiply the fractions, I get…

$A=\green \frac{4}{6} \, ft^2$

That fraction can be reduced to…

$A=\green \frac{2}{3} \, ft^2$

The area of the rectangle is $$\green \frac{2}{3} \, ft^2$$.

Find the area of the rectangle.

What is the length and width of the rectangle?

The length of the rectangle is $$\yellow 31.2 \, cm$$.

The width of the rectangle is $$\yellow 14.9 \, cm$$.

What is the area of the rectangle?

When I plug $$\yellow 31.2 \, cm$$ and $$\yellow 14.9 \, cm$$ into the Area of a Rectangle Formula I get…

$A=({\yellow 31.2 \, cm})({\yellow 14.9 \, cm})$

When I multiply the decimals, I get…

$A=\yellow 464.88 \, cm^2$

The area of the rectangle is $$\yellow 464.88 \, cm^2$$.

## Why It Works

Click here to see why the Area of a Rectangle Formula works.