What is the formula for the area of a rectangle?

• A. A = l * w
• B. A = l + w
• C. A = l^2 + w^2
• D. A = π r^2

Answer: (A)

To determine the area of a rectangle, multiply its length by its width. This product counts how many square units fit inside the shape: for each unit of length, you have a row of unit widths across the entire length. So Area equals length times width. The other expressions don’t give area: adding the sides is a linear measure, not area; length squared plus width squared isn’t area (it’s tied to the diagonal via the Pythagorean theorem); and pi times radius squared is the area of a circle, not a rectangle.