Find the area of a rectangle with length L = 5 inches and width W = 3 inches. Express your answer in square inches.

Introduction / Context:
This is a straightforward area of a rectangle problem designed to test direct application of the basic area formula. Such questions are common warm up problems in aptitude tests and confirm that the student remembers the fundamental relation between length, width, and area for rectangular shapes.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Length L of the rectangle is 5 inches.
• Width W of the rectangle is 3 inches.
• The figure is a perfect rectangle with right angles.
• We need the area in square inches.
• No scaling or additional shapes are involved.

Concept / Approach:
The area A of a rectangle is calculated by multiplying its length and width: A = L * W. This represents the number of unit squares that can fit into the rectangle. Since both dimensions are given directly and there are no complications like percentage changes or missing sides, we only need to substitute and multiply the numbers correctly.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Write the area formula: A = L * W.Substitute L = 5 inches and W = 3 inches.Compute A = 5 * 3.A = 15 square inches.Therefore, the area of the rectangle is 15 square inches.

Verification / Alternative check:
Imagine the rectangle as a grid of 5 units along its length and 3 units along its width. Counting the number of 1 inch by 1 inch squares gives 5 rows of 3 squares each, which is 15 squares in total. This visual interpretation matches the numerical answer, confirming that the area equals 15 square inches.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option 13 and 14 come from incorrect multiplication or careless addition such as 5 + 3 = 8 followed by some adjustment. Option 16 could appear if someone mistakenly uses (L + W) or mixes formulas. Option 18 might come from 6 * 3 or another incorrect combination, but it does not correspond to the given dimensions. None of these wrong values match the correct product 5 * 3.

Common Pitfalls:
Even in simple questions, students sometimes add the dimensions rather than multiply them, confusing perimeter with area. Others may accidentally reverse digits or misread the numbers. These errors highlight the importance of carefully reading the problem and recalling which formula applies to which geometric quantity.

Final Answer:
The area of the rectangle is 15 square inches.