What is the formula for calculating the area of a rectangle?

The formula for calculating the area of a rectangle is Length × Width. This is because the area measures the total space contained within the boundaries of the rectangle. To find the area, you multiply the length of the rectangle by its width. This product gives you the total number of square units that can fit inside the rectangle.

In contrast, simply adding Length and Width does not provide a measure of the area, as it combines the two dimensions rather than considering the space they enclose. The expression (Length + Width) × 2 gives you the perimeter of the rectangle, which is the total distance around it, rather than the area. Lastly, dividing Length by Width does not yield any area-related measurement; instead, it gives you a ratio of the two dimensions, which is useful in different contexts but not for calculating the area itself. Thus, the multiplication of Length by Width is the correct approach to determine the area of a rectangle.