Favorite Math Problem
This problem is one of my favorites because it requires you to use analytical thinking. Once you see the basic information given in the problem it becomes much easier than it originally appears.
The Problem
A four-leaf clover consists of 4 coplanar circles. The large circular leaves are externally tangent to each other, as well as to each of the smaller circular leaves, which are also congruent to one another. The radius of the large and small circular leaves is 1 1/2 inches and 1 inch, respectively. What is the area of a rhombus formed such that each of its vertices are also the center of one of the four circular leaves?