Area is the amount of flat space a shape covers. We measure it by counting how many unit squares fit inside it with no gaps and no overlaps.
On squared paper, a rectangle 5 squares long and 3 squares wide covers 15 squares, so its area is 15 square units. Instead of counting every square, count the squares in one row and the number of rows, then multiply: 3 rows of 5 is 15.
Worked example
A rectangle is 6 squares long and 4 squares wide. How many unit squares cover it?
- There are 4 rows of 6 squares.
- 4 × 6 = 24.
Answer:24 square units
Key words
- area
- the space inside a flat shape
- unit square
- a square with sides of 1 unit
- square units
- the units we count area in
Practise this
New questions every time.
Common Core-referenced: 3.MD.C.6