36
+ 72
The length of the rectangle = diameter of 2 circles = 4 × 3 = 12 mm
The width of the rectangle = 2 radii + distance d between radii ( lower to upper )
Using the right triangle formed by joining the 3 centres with legs 3 and d and hypotenuse 6
Using Pythagoras' identity, then
d² + 3² = 6²
d² + 9 = 36 ( subtract 9 from both sides )
d² = 27 ( take the square root of both sides )
d = = 3
Thus width of rectangle = 3 + 3 + 3 = 6 + 3
Hence
area = length × width
= 12 × (6 + 3 ) = 36 + 72 mm ²