Area of Rectangles and Triangles

Learn how to calculate the area of rectangles and triangles using simple formulas.

Elementary25 minLesson
Printable worksheet

Definition

Area is the amount of space inside a flat shape, measured in square units (like cm2\text{cm}^2 or m2\text{m}^2).

Rectangle Area Formula

For a rectangle with length ll and width ww:
Area=l×w\text{Area} = l \times w

Triangle Area Formula

For a triangle with base bb and height hh:
Area=12×b×h\text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times b \times h
The height must be perpendicular (at a right angle) to the base.

Try it now

A rectangle has a length of 6 cm and a width of 4 cm. What is its area?

Worked Examples

A rectangular garden is 8 meters long and 5 meters wide. What is its area?
1

Identify the dimensions

Length l=8l = 8 m, Width w=5w = 5 m → Dimensions identified
2

Write the formula

Area=l×w\text{Area} = l \times w → Formula ready
3

Substitute the values

Area=8×5\text{Area} = 8 \times 5 → Values substituted
4

Calculate

8×5=408 \times 5 = 40 → 40 m240 \text{ m}^2

Common Mistakes

Using the slant side instead of the height for triangles

Why it's wrong: The height must be perpendicular to the base. The slant side is usually longer than the actual height.

Correct: Always look for the height that forms a 90° angle with the base. It's often shown with a small square symbol.

Forgetting to divide by 2 for triangle area

Why it's wrong: A triangle is exactly half of a rectangle with the same base and height.

Correct: Remember: Triangle area = 12×\frac{1}{2} \times base ×\times height. The 12\frac{1}{2} is essential!

Writing the wrong units (e.g., cm instead of cm²)

Why it's wrong: Area measures two-dimensional space, so we need square units.

Correct: Always use square units: cm2\text{cm}^2, m2\text{m}^2, in2\text{in}^2, etc.

Confusing perimeter with area

Why it's wrong: Perimeter is the distance around a shape (addition); area is the space inside (multiplication).

Correct: Perimeter = add all sides. Area = multiply dimensions (with formula adjustments for different shapes).

Interactive Visual

Area and perimeter

l = 8w = 5

Area40

A=l⋅w=8⋅5=40A = l \cdot w = 8 \cdot 5 = 40

Perimeter26

P=2(l+w)=2(8+5)=26P = 2(l + w) = 2(8 + 5) = 26

Diagonal9.43

d=l2+w2=89≈9.43d = \sqrt{l^2 + w^2} = \sqrt{89} \approx 9.43

The two diagonals of a rectangle are always equal.

Triangle Explorer

By sides:Isosceles
By angles:Acute

Area:

20,000.0 sq units

Drag the vertices to change the triangle shape.

Interactive Sandbox

Expression Calculator

Try these:

History

No calculations yet

Practice Problems

15 problems
Problem 1 of 15
Easy
A rectangle has a length of 6 cm and a width of 4 cm. What is its area?

Why It Matters

Understanding area is essential for countless real-world tasks:
  • Home Improvement: Calculating how much paint to buy for a wall or carpet for a floor
  • Gardening: Determining how much soil or mulch you need for a garden bed
  • Construction: Builders calculate roof area to order the right amount of shingles
  • Art & Design: Artists plan canvas sizes and designers calculate space for layouts
Once you master these two shapes, you can find the area of almost any polygon by breaking it into rectangles and triangles!

Real World Applications

Painting a Room

Painters calculate wall area to know how much paint to buy.

Example:

A wall is 4 meters wide and 3 meters tall. Area = 4×3=12 m24 \times 3 = 12 \text{ m}^2. If one can of paint covers 10 m², you need 2 cans.

1Try It Yourself

You want to paint a rectangular wall that is 5 meters wide and 2.5 meters tall.

What is the area of the wall?

Step 1: Write the mathematical expression

Calculate: 5×2.55 \times 2.5

Designing a Triangular Banner

Event planners calculate fabric needed for decorative banners.

Example:

A triangular banner with base 2 m and height 1.5 m needs 12×2×1.5=1.5 m2\frac{1}{2} \times 2 \times 1.5 = 1.5 \text{ m}^2 of fabric.

2Try It Yourself

You're making a triangular flag with a base of 80 cm and a height of 60 cm.

How much fabric do you need?

Step 1: Write the mathematical expression

Calculate: 12×80×60\frac{1}{2} \times 80 \times 60

Laying Floor Tiles

Contractors calculate room area to order the right number of tiles.

Example:

A kitchen floor is 6 m by 4 m = 24 m². If each tile covers 0.25 m², you need 96 tiles.

3Try It Yourself

A bathroom floor is 3 meters by 2 meters. Each tile covers 0.5 m².

How many tiles do you need?

Step 1: Write the mathematical expression

First find area, then divide by tile size

Key Takeaways

  • 1Area measures the space inside a flat shape, using square units (cm2\text{cm}^2, m2\text{m}^2, etc.)
  • 2Rectangle area: Area=length×width\text{Area} = \text{length} \times \text{width}
  • 3Triangle area: Area=12×base×height\text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times \text{base} \times \text{height}
  • 4The triangle's height must be perpendicular to the base
  • 5Complex shapes can be broken into rectangles and triangles

Frequently Asked Questions

If you draw a rectangle and cut it diagonally, you get two identical triangles. Each triangle is exactly half the rectangle. That's why we multiply base × height (like a rectangle) and then divide by 2.
If you draw a rectangle and cut it diagonally, you get two identical triangles. Each triangle is exactly half the rectangle. That's why we multiply base × height (like a rectangle) and then divide by 2.
For obtuse triangles, the height may fall outside the triangle when you extend the base. The formula still works the same way - just make sure the height is perpendicular to the base (or its extension).
Yes! Any side of a triangle can be the base, but you must use the corresponding height (the perpendicular distance to that base). The area will be the same regardless of which side you choose.

Glossary

Area
The amount of space inside a two-dimensional shape, measured in square units
Square units
Units used to measure area, like cm², m², or in²
Base
The bottom side of a shape, or any side chosen as the reference for calculating area
Height
The perpendicular distance from the base to the opposite vertex (for triangles) or side (for rectangles)
Perpendicular
At a right angle (90°) to another line or surface

Formula Card

Rectangle

A=l×wA = l \times w

$l$ = length, $w$ = width

Triangle

A=12×b×hA = \frac{1}{2} \times b \times h

$b$ = base, $h$ = height

Today's challengeOne problem, three tries

More in This Topic

Perimeter of Polygons

Elementary20 min

Area of Parallelograms

Intermediate25 min

Area of a Rhombus

Intermediate20 min

Area of Trapezoids

Intermediate20 min