Maths Library

Area of Rectangles and Squares: Grade 6 math

This topic covers finding the area of squares, rectangles, and compound rectilinear shapes. Students practise multiplying base by height, splitting composite shapes, and finding missing dimensions given area.

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What this covers

Area of Rectangles and Squares is taught in Grade 6 (age 11 to 12) as a main teaching focus. It sits in the Measurement strand.

Worked example

A rectangle has a length of 9 cm and an area of 54 cm^2. What is its width

  1. Recall the formula for area: Area = length × width.
  2. Substitute known values: 54 = 9 × width.
  3. Divide area by length: width = 549 = 6 cm.

Answer: 6 cm

Difficulty scale

The sheet generator offers five difficulty settings for this topic.

  1. Counting whole unit squares on a grid to find area.
  2. Area of rectangles and squares using integer multiplication within times tables.
  3. Area of rectangles with two-digit integer dimensions or simple decimal lengths.
  4. Area of compound rectilinear (L or T) shapes by partitioning into two rectangles.
  5. Reverse problems finding unknown side lengths, or problems combining perimeter and area.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing area and perimeter by adding all side lengths instead of multiplying base by height.
  • Forgetting to subtract overlapping areas when partitioning compound rectilinear shapes.

Curriculum links

Indicative matches to Common Core State Standards. Check wording and codes against the official document.

  • 6.G.A.1 Find the area of triangles, special quadrilaterals, and polygons by composing or decomposing into simpler shapes.

Sample sheet and answers

Six questions at the level's usual difficulty. Open the editor to change, add or regenerate any of them.

Area of Rectangles and Squares

Grade 6 math

Qs
6
Marks
18
NameDateScore / 18
1.
Find the area of the rectangle.
10 cm3 cm
[3]
2.
Find the area of the rectangle.
16 cm14 cm
[3]
3.
Find the area of the rectangle.
20 cm5 cm
[3]
4.
Find the area of the rectangle.
17 cm14 cm
[3]
5.
Find the area of the rectangle.
6 cm6 cm
[3]
6.
Find the area of the rectangle.
15 cm13 cm
[3]

Answer key

  1. 30 cm2Area = length × width; 10 × 3 = 30 cm2
  2. 224 cm2Area = length × width; 16 × 14 = 224 cm2
  3. 100 cm2Area = length × width; 20 × 5 = 100 cm2
  4. 238 cm2Area = length × width; 17 × 14 = 238 cm2
  5. 36 cm2Area = length × width; 6 × 6 = 36 cm2
  6. 195 cm2Area = length × width; 15 × 13 = 195 cm2