Skill: Interpret multiplication as area

A rectangle can be divided into equal square units. The number of squares in each row is one factor, and the number of rows is the other factor.

Example: Find the area of a rectangle that is 6 units long and 4 units wide.

1. Draw or imagine 4 rows with 6 square units in each row:

2. Count the equal rows: there are 4 rows.

3. Count the squares in each row: there are 6 squares.

4. Multiply:

$$4 \times 6 = 24$$

5. Include square units. The area is:

$$\boxed{24\text{ square units}}$$

The multiplication can also be written as $6 \times 4 = 24$. Changing the order does not change the area because both expressions count the same 24 square units.

Area tells how much space is inside the rectangle. It is different from perimeter, which tells the distance around the rectangle.