In figure , ABCD is a square of side 14 cm. With centres A, B, C and D, four circles are drawn such that each circle touch externally two of the remaining three circles. Find the area of the shaded region.

The area of the whole square ABCD \( = \ 14^2 \ = \ 196 \)cm²

The sum of the area of the four quadrants at the four corners of the square

= The area of a circle of radius 7cm

\(= \ \pi(7)^2 \ = \ \frac{22}{7} \ × \ 49 \ = \ 154 \) cm²

Area of the shaded portion = The area of the square ABCD - The sum of the area of four quadrants at the four corners of the square

\(= \ 196 \ - \ 154 \ = \ 42 \) cm²