Answer
The total area covered by the count is $= 300,262.5$ mile$^{2}$
Work Step by Step
1. Find the area of the circles
Let $A =$ area of the circles
(Note: Radius $= (diameter \div 2) = (15 \div 2) = 7.5$ miles)
$A = \pi r^{2}$
$A = 3.14 \times (7.5^{2}$)
$A = 3.14 \times56.25$
$A = 176.625$ mile$^{2}$
2. Multiply the area of the circle by the number of circular areas counted
Let $C =$ total area covered by the count
$C = A \times 1700$
$C = 176.625 \times 1700$
$C = 300,262.5$ mile$^{2}$
