How does the area of a rectangle change if both the base and the height of the original rectangle are tripled?

How does the area of a rectangle change if both the base and the height of the original rectangle are tripled?
A . The area is tripled.
B . The area is six times larger.
C . The area is nine times larger.
D . The area remains the same.
E . The area cannot be determined.

Answer: C

Explanation:

Since both dimensions are tripled, there are two additional factors of 3. Therefore, the new area is 3 × 3 = 9 times as large as the original. For example, use a rectangle with a base of 5 and height of 6. The area is 5 × 6 = 30 square units. If you multiply each side length by 3, the new dimensions are 15 and 18. The new area is 15 × 18, which is 270 square units. By comparing the new area with the original area, 270 square units is nine times larger than 30 square units; 30 × 9 = 270.