5th Grade · Number & Operations—Fractions

Area Model

5.NF.B.4b

Definition

A rectangle diagram that shows multiplication as area, with the factors as its side lengths.

Examples

  • For 2/3 x 3/4, a rectangle split into 3 columns and 4 rows shows an overlap of 6 of 12 parts.
  • For 24 x 13, a rectangle split by place value shows partial-product regions that add to 312.

Key rule

The overlapping region of the rectangle represents the product.

Memory hook

Multiplication drawn as the area of a rectangle.