Problem:
Four squares of side length and units are arranged in increasing size order so that their left edges and bottom edges align. The squares alternate in color, as shown in the figure. What is the area of the visible colored region in square units?
Answer Choices:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Solution:
The visible colored region includes the area of the square with side length subtracted by the area of the square with side length plus the area of the square with side length minus the area of the square with side length . Hence, we get
Thus, is the correct answer.
Answer: .
The problems on this page are the property of the MAA's American Mathematics Competitions