What is the formula for the area of a rectangle?

The area of a rectangle is calculated by multiplying its length by its width. This formula arises from the concept of area as the amount of space contained within a shape. In the case of a rectangle, the dimensions are relevant in a way that both the length and width contribute to forming the total space.

When visualizing a rectangle, you can think of it as being made up of a grid of unit squares. The number of squares that can fit along the length and the number of squares that can fit along the width directly represent the area. Hence, by multiplying the length (the count of squares along one side) by the width (the count of squares along the adjacent side), you effectively cover the entire surface area of the rectangle.

The other choices present operations that do not accurately define area. Adding the length and width provides a perimeter-like measure but does not capture the total area. Subtracting width from length would yield a dimension that is often not meaningful in the context of the area. Similarly, dividing length by width would result in a ratio, which does not reflect the actual surface space of the rectangle. Thus, the multiplication of length by width is the precise formula for determining the area of a rectangle.