Calculate Rectangle Area: Finding the Area of an 8 × 4 Rectangle

Q: Why do I multiply the dimensions instead of adding them?

Addition gives perimeter (distance around), but multiplication gives area (space inside). Think of it as counting rows: 4 rows of 8 squares each = $ 4 \times 8 = 32 $ total squares!

Q: Does it matter which number I call length and which is width?

No! $ 4 \times 8 = 32 $ gives the same result as $ 8 \times 4 = 32 $. This is because multiplication is commutative - the order doesn't change the answer.

Q: What units should my answer have?

Area is always measured in square units. If the rectangle measures 4 cm by 8 cm, the area would be 32 cm². If no units are given, just write the number: 32.

Q: How can I visualize this calculation?

Imagine the rectangle divided into unit squares. You have 4 rows and 8 columns of squares. Counting all squares: 4 × 8 = 32 square units total.

Q: What if I get confused about which formula to use?

Remember: Area (space inside): length × widthPerimeter (distance around): 2 × (length + width)This problem asks for area, so multiply!

Rectangle Area with Given Dimensions

Given the following rectangle:

Find the area of the rectangle.

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Understand the problem

Given the following rectangle:

Find the area of the rectangle.

Step-by-step solution

Let's calculate the area of the rectangle by multiplying the length by the width:

$4\times8=32$

Final Answer

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Area Formula: Rectangle area equals length times width (A = l × w)
Technique: Multiply the dimensions: $4 \times 8 = 32$
Check: Count unit squares or verify 32 ÷ 8 = 4 and 32 ÷ 4 = 8 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Adding dimensions instead of multiplying
Don't add 4 + 8 = 12! This gives you the perimeter, not the area. Area measures how much space is inside the rectangle, which requires multiplying. Always multiply length times width to find area.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Look at the rectangle ABCD below.

Side AB is 6 cm long and side BC is 4 cm long.

What is the area of the rectangle?

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why do I multiply the dimensions instead of adding them?

Addition gives perimeter (distance around), but multiplication gives area (space inside). Think of it as counting rows: 4 rows of 8 squares each = $4 \times 8 = 32$ total squares!

Does it matter which number I call length and which is width?

No! $4 \times 8 = 32$ gives the same result as $8 \times 4 = 32$ . This is because multiplication is commutative - the order doesn't change the answer.

What units should my answer have?

Area is always measured in square units. If the rectangle measures 4 cm by 8 cm, the area would be 32 cm². If no units are given, just write the number: 32.

How can I visualize this calculation?

Imagine the rectangle divided into unit squares. You have 4 rows and 8 columns of squares. Counting all squares: 4 × 8 = 32 square units total.

What if I get confused about which formula to use?

Remember:

Area (space inside): length × width
Perimeter (distance around): 2 × (length + width)

This problem asks for area, so multiply!

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