document.write( "Question 891466: The formula width x height could be used for area. Another common algorithm used for area is length x width. Why are two different formulas acceptable? Why might using height in the area formula be confusing for students?
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Algebra.Com's Answer #539762 by AnlytcPhil(1806)\"\" \"About 
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document.write( "\"Height\" always means vertical measurement (up and down), while \"width\"\r\n" );
document.write( "often, but not always means horizontal measurement (right to left).  Sometimes \r\n" );
document.write( "\"base\" is used for the horizontal meansurement.\r\n" );
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document.write( "But when rectangles are turned sideways and the height becomes the width (base)\r\n" );
document.write( "and the width (base) becomes the height.  But since width x height and\r\n" );
document.write( "height x width are the same, it doesn't matter which we call which.\r\n" );
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document.write( "It is customary to label the greater dimension of a rectangle the \"length\" and\r\n" );
document.write( "the shorter the \"width\".  But this is not always adhered to.\r\n" );
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document.write( "The best way would be to say \"The area of a rectangle is the product of the\r\n" );
document.write( "two perpendicular dimensions\" and make the formula A = d1d2.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Edwin

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