What is the formula for the area of a rectangle?

The formula for the area of a rectangle is derived from the basic principle of area calculation, which involves multiplying the length by the width. This is because the area measures the amount of space within the bounds of the rectangle.

When you multiply the length (the longer side of the rectangle) by the width (the shorter side), you can visualize this as counting how many unit squares can fit inside the rectangle. Each square has an area of one square unit, and by multiplying the two dimensions, you find the total area in square units.

This concept is fundamental in geometry and applies universally to rectangles regardless of their size. The other options, involving addition or subtraction, do not accurately reflect how area is calculated, as they do not account for the relationship between the length and width in measuring space inside the rectangle.