If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website.

If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked.

Main content

Comparing areas word problem

Sal compares the area of two posters using their side-lengths. Created by Sal Khan.

Want to join the conversation?

  • duskpin ultimate style avatar for user JurassicFartz
    Are there any other ways to calculate area?
    (24 votes)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
  • starky tree style avatar for user Dookie x Smiggles
    Video transcript for you: Mary's rectangular poster is 36 inches by 20 inches Susan's rectangular poster is 26 inches by 30 inches which poster has a larger area and by how many square inches so let's think about these so this is Mary's poster Mary's poster is 36 inches by 20 inches so it's 36 inches by 20 inches by 20 inches 20 inches so it might look something like that so the area the area is going to be 36 times 20 square inches 36 times 2 is 72 so 36 times 20 is going to be 720 square inches square inches now let's think about Susan's situation so let's draw Susan's poster Susan's poster is 26 inches by 30 inches so 26 inches by 30 inches by 30 inches so Susan's poster might look something like that that's Susan's poster my best attempt to draw a rectangle what's the area here the area is 26 times 30 square inches which is equal to let's actually multiply this one out 26 times 30 so we can immediately just throw it let's see we could do 26 times 3 and essentially add a 0 there so 3 times 6 is 18 3 times 2 is 6 plus 1 is 78 and actually I could have probably done that in my head 3 times 20 is 60 plus 3 times 6 is 18 gets to 78 this isn't 3 times 26 3 times 26 would be 78 30 times 26 is 780 so it's 780 square inches so whose poster whose which poster has a larger area Susan's Susan's poster has a larger area and by how many square inches well hers is 780 square inches while Mary's is 720 square inches so it's by 60 square inches 780 - 720 would be 60
    (7 votes)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
  • leaf green style avatar for user Aways
    how to measure a shapes like croissant or star I mean is there a way to measure it in details ?
    (8 votes)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
  • female robot amelia style avatar for user Rylenn S.
    I still do not understand it! I am getting upset / mad!
    (9 votes)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
  • aqualine ultimate style avatar for user Kaeden,masao,Kaolanewypomikae,lucero
    Are there any other ways to calculate area
    (8 votes)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
  • mr pink red style avatar for user Jodie Cahill
    What if you were given the area but had to find the perimeter r?
    (5 votes)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
  • mr pants pink style avatar for user Joshua Perez
    Do we have to use this way?
    (4 votes)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
  • piceratops seed style avatar for user misspig925
    Why does it say I'm wrong if 6 multiplied by one. Is6
    (2 votes)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
  • hopper happy style avatar for user CC
    what are the ways to calculate area
    (3 votes)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
  • aqualine sapling style avatar for user claire the nanay cat🦄🥹🥰😸😻
    111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111112222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333334444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555
    (2 votes)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user

Video transcript

Mary's rectangular poster is 36 inches by 20 inches. Susan's rectangular poster is 26 inches by 30 inches. Which poster has a larger area and by how many square inches? So let's think about these. So this is Mary's poster. Mary's poster is 36 inches by 20 inches. So it's 36 inches by 20 inches. So it might look something like that. So the area is going to be 36 times 20 square inches. 36 times 2 is 72. So 36 times 20 is going to be 720 square inches. Now let's think about Susan's situation. So let's draw Susan's poster. Susan's poster is 26 inches by 30 inches, so 26 inches by 30 inches. So Susan's poster might look something like that. That's Susan's poster, my best attempt to draw a rectangle. What's the area here? The area is 26 times 30 square inches, which is equal to-- let's actually multiply this one out-- 26 times 30. We could do 26 times 3 and essentially add a 0 there. So 3 times 6 is 18. 3 times 2 is 6, plus 1 is 78. And actually, I could have probably done that in my head. 3 times 20 is 60, plus 3 times 6 is 18, gets us 78. But this isn't 3 times 26. 3 times 26 would be 78. 30 times 26 is 780. So it's 780 square inches. So whose poster, which poster has a larger area? Susan's. Susan's poster has a larger area. And by how many square inches? Well, hers is 780 square inches while Mary's is 720 square inches. So it's by 60 square inches. 780 minus 720 would be 60.