Area

Area is a math idea that tells us how much space a shape covers. Think about the floor of your bedroom. The area is how much floor there is to walk on. We measure area in square units, like square inches or square feet. Every flat shape has an area.

Finding the Area

To find the area of a rectangle, you multiply its length by its width. If a rug is 4 feet long and 3 feet wide, its area is 12 square feet. Squares are easy because all sides are the same. Triangles and circles have their own special rules. Knowing the area helps you pick the right size of things.

Area in Real Life

People use area all the time. Farmers use it to plan their fields. Painters use it to know how much paint they need. Teachers use it to make sure a classroom has enough space. Even when you buy carpet, the store measures the area of your room. Area is a very useful math skill.

Fun Facts

• The area of a soccer field is about 7,000 square meters.
• Area is always measured in square units.
• The biggest country by area is Russia.

Did You Know?

The area of all the land on Earth is about 57 million square miles. That is a lot of ground to explore.