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Area of a Rectangle Formula: 5 Examples + Quick Calculation

Published: 09.06.2026·Updated: 15.10.2026
Nadia Rahmawati

Nadia Rahmawati

Math Curriculum Team, Algonova

Area of a Rectangle Formula: 5 Examples + Quick Calculation

The area of a rectangle formula is A = p × l, length times width. For example, a rectangle 8 cm long and 5 cm wide has an area of 8 × 5 = 40 cm². It is taught from Year 3 of primary school to Year 7, and the unit is always square (cm², m²).

The Formula

A = p × l. A rectangle 5 units long and 3 wide holds 3 rows of 5 unit squares, so 15 unit squares. To find a missing side use p = A ÷ l or l = A ÷ p.

Four Steps

  1. Identify length and width.
  2. Match the units (250 cm = 2.5 m).
  3. Multiply p × l.
  4. Write the square unit.

Worked Examples

  • 6 m × 4 m floor: 24 m².
  • 25 cm × 18 cm notebook cover: 450 cm².
  • 12 m × 250 cm garden: 12 × 2.5 = 30 m².
  • Area 120 cm², length 15 cm: width = 8 cm.
  • 25 m × 15 m futsal court with 50 cm tiles: 375 ÷ 0.25 = 1,500 tiles.

Area and Perimeter

Area measures the inside (A = p × l), perimeter measures the edge (P = 2 × (p + l)). For 8 cm × 5 cm: area 40 cm², perimeter 26 cm.

Summary

Multiply, match units, write square units. Algonova has helped more than 1,000,000 students in 97 countries, with a free maths diagnostic of about 60 minutes.