What is the formula for the area of a rectangle?

The formula for the area of a rectangle is given by A = bh, where A represents the area, b is the length of the base (or width), and h is the height (or length). This formula is derived from the concept of multiplying the length of one side of the rectangle by the length of the adjacent side. Since a rectangle is defined by having four right angles and opposite sides that are equal in length, this straightforward multiplication provides a measure of the total space contained within the rectangle.

In this context, the first choice succinctly captures the essence of calculating area by focusing on the two defining dimensions of a rectangle, ensuring that students can easily apply this formula to find the area in various problems involving rectangles. The other options provided refer to different geometric concepts: the area of a triangle, the area of a circle, and the volume of a three-dimensional shape, which do not apply to the scenario of finding the area of a rectangle directly.