Area is the amount of surface a flat shape covers, measured in square units. It counts how many unit squares fit inside the shape, which is why the units are squared.
Math Dictionary / Area
Area
Area measures the amount of flat space inside a two-dimensional shape.
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What it means
Area is counted in square units, such as square inches or square centimeters.
Also called: inside space
Examples
| Rectangle area = length x width |
| A 5 by 3 rectangle has area 15 square units |
| Triangle area = 1/2 x base x height |
Common mistake
Do not use perimeter units for area. Area uses square units.
Try one
Question: What is the area of a rectangle with length 8 and width 4?
Show answer
8 x 4 = 32 square units.