<p><span style="color:#8e44ad;"><span style="font-size:20px;">Visualizing the Problem</span></span></p>
<p>Below you see two circles. The second's diameter is $3$ times the first's.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="https://gregmatapi.s3.amazonaws.com/media/misc/files/question10.PNG" style="width: 250px; height: 168px;" /></p>
<p>ETS is trying to get us to fall into the trap that the area of the larger circle is $3$ times that of the smaller circle. As you can see from the image, this is clearly NOT the case. Don't fall for the trap!</p>
<p><span style="font-size:20px;"><span style="color:#27ae60;">Solving the Problem</span></span></p>
<p>If we imagine the diameter of the smaller circle $D$ is $2$, then its radius is $1$, and its area below:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">$$ area = \pi r^2 = \pi 1^2 = \pi$$</p>
<p>The diameter of circle $C$ would be $6$, its radius would be $3$, and its area is below:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">$$area = \pi r^2 = \pi 3^2 = 9 \pi$$</p>
<p>As we can see, circle $C$'s area is $9$ times that of circle $D$. The <strong><span style="color:#27ae60;">correct answer is $9$</span></strong>.</p>