The output force of a hydraulic lift is given by:
![F_2=(A_2)/(A_1)F_1](https://img.qammunity.org/2023/formulas/physics/college/nkltstalgqf1qv5q7rjk9q6cfdlzrrknx6.png)
In this case we need to lift a patient of mass 82 kg, that means that the lifting force has to be equal to:
![F_2=82\cdot9.8=803.6](https://img.qammunity.org/2023/formulas/physics/college/d9p800e38kmle2uk6wxxuzy61uq0b63f01.png)
Now that we know that we plug the values given, in this case we have:
![\begin{gathered} 803.6=(1.2)/(A_1)(14.4) \\ A_1=(1.2)/(803.6)(14.4) \\ A_1=0.022 \end{gathered}](https://img.qammunity.org/2023/formulas/physics/college/7uds65qa129cf2w00him46fkl5h4b12irj.png)
Therefore the area of the effort piston is 0.022 squared meters (rounded to three decimal).