How do you calculate the area of a rectangle?

To calculate the area of a rectangle, you multiply the length by the width. This is because the area represents the total space inside the rectangle, and length and width are the dimensions that define that space. By multiplying these two measurements together, you obtain a value that reflects how many square units fit within the boundaries of the rectangle.

For instance, if a rectangle has a length of 5 units and a width of 3 units, the area would be calculated as 5 x 3 = 15 square units. This formula is fundamental in geometry and is consistently used for rectangles because it directly correlates to how rectangles are structured.

The other approaches listed involve addition, subtraction, or doubling the perimeter, none of which accurately represent the calculation for area in the context of a rectangle.