How is the area of a rectangle calculated?

The area of a rectangle is calculated by multiplying its base (or length) by its height (or width). This formula stems from the concept that the area represents the number of square units that can fit within the rectangle. To understand this more clearly, when you take the base measurement and extend it vertically to the height, you effectively create a grid of squares that occupy the rectangle. Each square unit contributes to the total area, and by multiplying the two dimensions—base and height—you account for all those square units.

Thus, the procedure for finding the area is straightforward: you simply take the measurement of one side (the base) and multiply it by the perpendicular side (the height), resulting in the area being expressed in square units (e.g., square meters, square feet). This calculation is fundamental in geometry and is widely applicable in various mathematical contexts.