MathDB

What is the smallest possible area of a rectangle that can completely contain the shape formed by joining six squares of side length

8

cm as shown below?
[asy] size(5cm,0); draw((0,2)--(0,3)); draw((1,1)--(1,3)); draw((2,0)--(2,3)); draw((3,0)--(3,2)); draw((4,0)--(4,1)); draw((2,0)--(4,0)); draw((1,1)--(4,1)); draw((0,2)--(3,2)); draw((0,3)--(2,3)); [/asy]

\text{(A) }384\text{ cm}^2\qquad\text{(B) }576\text{ cm}^2\qquad\text{(C) }672\text{ cm}^2\qquad\text{(D) }768\text{ cm}^2\qquad\text{(E) }832\text{ cm}^2

Problem Statement