Problem: A circular piece of metal of maximum size is cut out of a square piece and then a square piece of maximum size is cut out of the circular piece. The total amount of metal wasted is
Answer Choices:
A. the area of the original square
B. the area of the original square
C. the area of the circular piece
D. the area of the circular piece
E. none of these
Solution:
Designate a side of the original square by . Then the radius of the inscribed circle is . A side of the second square (inscribed in the circle) is . Therefore, the area of the second square is , while that of the original square is (B) is the correct choice.