Cut a rectangle into a grid of cards
A rectangular sheet of paper is wide and tall. It is cut into identical squares that are each on a side.
Find the total number of identical squares that can be made.
Show solution
Understand
A 30 cm by 20 cm rectangular sheet is cut into identical 5 cm squares. We need the total number of squares.
- The sheet is 30 cm wide and 20 cm tall.
- Each square is 5 cm on a side.
- The figure shows the sheet divided into a 6-by-4 grid of 5 cm squares.
- The total number of identical 5 cm squares cut from the sheet.
- Squares tile the rectangle exactly (5 divides both 30 and 20 evenly), with no leftover.
Plan
#7 Identify Subproblems · also uses: #1 Draw a Diagram
Break it into two subproblems: how many squares fit across the width, and how many fit down the height. Then a rows-times-columns array gives the total, matching the grid in the figure.
Execute
Review
The figure shows exactly 6 columns and 4 rows; counting the grid cells gives 24, confirming the array. The unit (squares, a count) matches the question.
Use area (tool 8, Analyze Units): total area 30x20 = 600 cm^2, each square 5x5 = 25 cm^2, and 600 / 25 = 24.
Standards · min grade 3
2.G.A.2Partition a rectangle into rows and columns of same-size squares — Finding how many 5 cm squares fit along the width and height.3.MD.C.7Relate area to multiplication and addition operations — Counting the full grid of squares as a rows-by-columns array.