Geometry
Area of a rectangle
Length times width. Both measurements must be in the same unit, and the result is in that unit squared.
The Formula
A = l x w
Length times width. Both measurements must be in the same unit, and the result is in that unit squared.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Area | square metres | Flat surface covered by the rectangle. |
| l | Length | metres | The longer side. |
| w | Width | metres | The shorter side, in the same unit as the length. |
What Each Symbol Means
Asquare metres
Area
Flat surface covered by the rectangle.
lmetres
Length
The longer side.
wmetres
Width
The shorter side, in the same unit as the length.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to calculate the area of a rectangle page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Calculate The Area Of A Rectangle, filed under Math. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.