To find the area of a rectangle, which formula should be used?

To find the area of a rectangle, the correct formula is to multiply the length by the width. This is derived from the concept that the area represents the total number of square units that can fit within the rectangle. By multiplying the two dimensions, length and width, you obtain a measurement in square units, which defines the extent of the rectangle's surface.

For instance, if a rectangle has a length of 5 units and a width of 3 units, the area is calculated as 5 multiplied by 3, resulting in 15 square units. This multiplication accurately reflects how many unit squares can fill the rectangle.

The other options describe operations that do not yield the area of a rectangle. Adding the length and width gives a perimeter when measured in linear units, dividing them does not have a meaningful interpretation regarding area, and subtracting one from the other does not reflect the spatial extent of the rectangle either. Understanding the relationship between length and width through multiplication is crucial for accurately determining the area.