New York State Real Estate Salesperson Licensing Exam

How do you calculate the area of a rectangle?

1. Height x Depth

2. Length x Width

3. Perimeter x Height

4. Base x Height

The correct answer is: Length x Width

To calculate the area of a rectangle, the correct method is to multiply the length by the width. This is because the area represents the amount of space within the rectangle, and the formula for area specifically accounts for these two dimensions—the length (which corresponds to one side of the rectangle) and the width (the adjacent side). The result will give you the total square units that fill the interior of the rectangle. The other options present different concepts. For instance, height and depth do not pertain to calculating area specifically for rectangles, and using perimeter in any direct multiplication with height does not yield an area measurement, as perimeter refers to the total distance around the rectangle rather than the space within it. Similarly, multiplying base by height is a method used in determining the area of triangles, not rectangles, making it an inappropriate choice for this specific question. Therefore, the length multiplied by width is the proper and well-accepted formula for finding the area of a rectangle.