Skill: Find the area of rectangles

The area of a rectangle is the amount of surface inside it. To find the area, multiply its length by its width:

$$A = l \times w$$

Make sure both measurements use the same unit. The answer is written in square units.

Example: Find the area of a rectangle that is $8$ centimeters long and $3$ centimeters wide.

1. Identify the measurements:

   • Length: $l = 8\text{ cm}$
   • Width: $w = 3\text{ cm}$

2. Substitute the measurements into the formula:

$$A = 8 \times 3$$

3. Multiply:

$$A = 24$$

4. Write the unit as square centimeters:

$$\boxed{24\text{ cm}^2}$$

The rectangle has an area of 24 square centimeters. This means it could be covered by 24 square tiles, each measuring $1\text{ cm} \times 1\text{ cm}$. Area measures the space inside a shape, while perimeter measures the distance around it.