To find the answer to this question, first you need to know the formula for area.
Area of a rectangle = length * width
Now, we need to substitute our known numbers into the equation.
Area of the countertop = (16 meters) * (3 meters)
Now, we must combine like terms, or multiply out the right side of the equation.
Area of the countertop = 48 meters
The area of the counter top is 48 square meters.