In the diagram, point D is the center of the medium-sized circle that passes through C and E, and it is also the center of the l
argest circle that passes through A and G. Each of the diameters of the small circles with centers B and F equals the radius of the medium-sized circle with center D. The shaded area is what fraction of the largest circle?Single choice.
The area of the smaller circles is proportional to the square of the ratio of their diameters. The two smallest circles have diameters equal to 1/4 the diameter of the largest circle. Hence their areas are (1/4)^2 = 1/16 of that of the largest circle.
Similarly, the medium circle has a diameter half that of the largest circle, so its area is (1/2)^2 = 1/4 of the are of the largest circle.
The smaller circles subtract 2×1/16 +1/4 = 3/8 of the area of the largest circle. Then the shading is 1-3/8 = 5/8 of the area of the largest circle.
