Activities

1. Define area.
   
   
2. Which problem is asking for area?

1. The amount of fencing needed to enclose your backyard.
2. The amount of carpet needed for your living room floor.
3. The distance around the outside of a soccer field.
4. The length of border needed to go around your bedroom.

3. Calculate the area of the rectangle below.  Show your work.

4. Find the area of the rug.  Show your work.

5. A high school basketball court measures 26 meters by 15 meters.  How much area is covered?

6. Andrea’s bedroom is in the shape of a rectangle.  She wants to purchase an area rug that will cover as much of her floor as possible.  The area of her room is 51 square feet, with the shorter side measuring six feet.  Should she purchase a rug that is 4’ x 6’, 5’ x 7’, 6’ x 9’, or 8’ by 10’?  Explain.

Answer Key/Rubric

1. Area is the number of square units a figure covers.
   
   
2. b

3. 216 cm²
   Work may include, but is not limited to:
   
   A = l × w
   A = 24 × 9
   A = 216

4. 5,040 in²
   Work may include, but is not limited to:

A = l × w
A = 84 × 60
A = 5040

5. 390 m²
   Work may include, but is not limited to:

A = l × w
A = 26 × 15
A = 390

6. 5’ x 7’
   Explanations may include, but are not limited to:

• 8’ x 10’ is already too big because the longest side of the room is only 6’
• Find the area covered by the other rugs:

4’ x 6’ = 24 ft²              5’ x 7’ = 35 ft²              6’ x 9’ = 54 ft²

• Room is only 51 square feet so the rug must be smaller.
• The 6’ x 9’ won’t work because 54 > 51.
• Both the 4’ x 6’ and 5’ x 7’ will fit
• Andrea wants to cover the most floor possible, so the 5’ x 7’ will cover more than the 4’ x 6’