What is the formula for the area of a rectangle?

The formula for the area of a rectangle is expressed as the product of its length and width, which is represented in mathematical terms as A = length * width. This relationship is grounded in the definition of area as the amount of space within a two-dimensional shape. In the context of a rectangle, the length is one side, and the width is the perpendicular side. By multiplying these two dimensions, you effectively calculate the total number of square units that can fit within the rectangle. This formula applies universally, regardless of the dimensions of the rectangle, as long as both length and width are known.

The other choices represent formulas for different geometric figures: the formula in choice B is for the area of a trapezoid, choice C is for the area of a triangle, and choice D incorrectly describes the perimeter of a rectangle rather than its area. Hence, A correctly identifies the area of a rectangle through the straightforward multiplication of its two defining dimensions.