jmc

The smallest square tarp that can cover a circle is the square circumscribed around the circle. The side length $s$ of the circumscribed square is equal to the diameter of the circle, so first we solve $s^2=196$ to find $s=14$ feet. If the diameter of a circle is 14 feet, then its radius is 7 feet and its area is $\pi (\text{radius}{)}^2=\boxed{49\pi }$ square feet.