What is the correct formula for the area of a rectangle?

The correct formula for the area of a rectangle is based on the geometric properties of the shape. The area is defined as the amount of space enclosed within the boundaries of the rectangle. To find the area, one multiplies the length of the rectangle by its width. This is represented mathematically as Area = length × width.

This multiplication operation effectively summarizes how many unit squares can fit within the rectangle, where the length determines how many squares fit along one side and the width determines how many fit along the adjacent side. Therefore, when you multiply these two dimensions, you obtain the total number of square units that can fill the rectangle, which is precisely the area.

Other formulas do not correctly represent the concept of area. For instance, simply adding or subtracting dimensions does not give a measure of space; it does not account for the two-dimensional aspect of the rectangle. The formula involving multiplication clearly captures how the two dimensions interact to generate a total area. Thus, the formula Area = length × width is the standard and correct one for calculating the area of a rectangle.