A rectangle can be filled with a grid of equal squares — rows and columns!
An ARRAY is an arrangement of objects in equal rows and equal columns. When we tile a rectangle with same-size squares (no gaps, no overlaps), we get a rectangular array. We can count the total squares using repeated addition — rows × columns!
A 3-row × 4-column array of squares:
3 rows of 4 squares. Total: 4 + 4 + 4 = 12 squares!
Row 1: 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Row 2: 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 2 rows of 5 = 5 + 5 = 10 squares total! Notice: 5 rows of 2 would also = 10. Same total, different arrangement!
How to count an array:
A baking tray has 4 rows and 3 columns. 🧁🧁🧁 🧁🧁🧁 🧁🧁🧁 🧁🧁🧁 4 rows × 3 columns: 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12 cupcakes!
A rectangle is filled with 5 rows and 4 columns of equal squares. How many squares are there in total?
Remember This!
Draw the array! Sketch rows and columns of small squares inside the rectangle. Counting them gives you the area — how many square units fit inside.