Area of Rectangle- Definition, Formula, Examples & FAQs

Introduction

Calculating the area of a rectangle is a necessary math skill applied in our day-to-day life—we apply this concept to evaluate the cost of flooring, painting, land area, and so on. A rectangle, also known as an equiangular quadrilateral, is a two-dimensional shape having four sides and four vertices, forming right angles at all four corners. The area of a rectangle is the area enclosed within the four sides of the figure. The opposite sides of a rectangle are always parallel and equal to each other. The sum of the lengths of the four sides of this geometric figure is called the perimeter. Since opposite sides of a rectangle are always equal, just knowing the dimensions of only two sides is enough to find the area of the rectangle. 

Studying the properties of a rectangle helps us to gain an in-depth understanding of how to find the area of a rectangle and its application in various fields. In this article, we will learn in detail about rectangle, its properties, area and formulas along with solved problems.

Table of Contents

• Definition of Rectangle
• Properties of a Rectangle
• Area of a Rectangle
• Formula & steps to calculate area of a rectangle
• Applications of area of rectangle
• Frequently Asked Questions

Definition Of Rectangle

A rectangle is a four-sided geometric figure. The word “rectangle” is derived from the Latin word rect (right) and the French word angle (angle). So, a rectangle is a shape that contains four sides intersecting each other at right angles. As the sides of a rectangle are always parallel, it makes the rectangle a type of parallelogram. The opposite sides of a rectangle are always of the same length. From this definition of a rectangle, we can also say that every square is a rectangle because it has four sides meeting each other at right angles; however, not every rectangle is a square, since a rectangle’s length and width don’t have to be the same, and that is one of the major differences between them.

 

Properties of rectangles

A rectangle has three properties:

• All the angles of a rectangle are 90°

• Opposite sides of a rectangle are equal and parallel.

• Diagonals of a rectangle bisect each other.

Area Of A Rectangle

The area of a rectangle is the total space covered by the figure. It is represented using the letter 'A'. To find out the area (A) of a rectangle, it’s necessary to know the length (L) and the width (W) of a rectangle. Once you know those numbers, you can plug them into the formula and get the desired result. 

Formula & Steps to Calculate Area of a Rectangle

The formula to find the area of a rectangle is: 

Area = Length x Breadth

For example, if a rectangle has a length of 8 feet and a width of 4 feet, the area is 8 x 4, or 32 feet.

Applications of Area of Rectangle

There are many real-world problems that are solved by knowing the concept of the area of a rectangle. When calculating the cost incurred to fence a rectangular plot, being able to calculate the total perimeter of the rectangular field, one can easily evaluate the cost of fencing it. Building construction is another such example where we can use the area of the rectangle to our advantage.

The foundation of a house is usually rectangular in shape. By finding the perimeter of the foundation, we can calculate the cost of raising a proper foundation for the house. Gardening is another example where knowing the perimeter of a rectangular lawn will help to plant flowerpots all across the perimeter of the lawn and understand the quantity required for the same. Some other examples are finding 

Sample Problems on Area of Rectangle

Example 1: Find the area of the rectangular box with length = 10 cm & width = 2 cm.

Solution: As mentioned above, the length of the box is 15 cm & its width is 4 cm

Therefore, the area of a rectangle = Length × Width = 10 × 2  = 20

 So the area of the rectangular box is 20 cm².

Example 2: How to find the area of a rectangular desk with a length and breadth of 100 cm & 120 cm, respectively.

Solution: Length of the desk = 100 cm 

Breadth of the desk = 120 cm 

Area of the desk = area of a rectangle = length x breadth = 100 cm x 120 cm = 12000 square centimeters

Frequently Asked Questions

1: What is the formula to calculate the area of a rectangle?

Answer: The area of the rectangle is length x breadth.

2: Why is the area of rectangle L*B?

Answer: The area of the rectangle is LB because we calculate here the square units of the rectangle. Multiplying the total squares in the length and the total squares in the width of the rectangle will give the total squares in the rectangle.

3: What is the unit of area?

Answer: The unit of area of any shape is a square unit. For example, sq.m. or m².

4. What is the perimeter of the rectangle?

Answer: The perimeter of the rectangle is defined as the sum of the lengths of its four sides. Therefore, the Perimeter of a rectangle = 2 (Length + breadth).