Consider the dark square in an array of unit squares, part of which is shown. The first ring of squares around this center square contains $8$ unit squares. The second ring contains $16$ unit squares. If we continue this process, the number of unit squares in the $100^\text{th}$ ring is
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$\textbf{(A)}\ 396 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 404 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 800 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 10,\!000 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 10,\!404$
Solution 1
We can partition the $n^\text{th}$ ring into $4$ rectangles: two containing $2n+1$ unit squares and two containing $2n-1$ unit squares.
There are $2(2n+1)+2(2n-1)=4n+2+4n-2=8n$ unit squares in the $n^\text{th}$ ring.
Thus, the $100^\text{th}$ ring has $8 \times 100 = \boxed{\textbf{(C) }800}$ unit squares.

Solution 2
We can make the $n^\text{th}$ ring by removing a square of side length $2n-1$ from a square of side length $2n+1$. 
This ring contains $(2n+1)^2-(2n-1)^2=(4n^2+4n+1)-(4n^2-4n+1)=8n$ unit squares.
Thus, the $100^\text{th}$ ring has $8 \times 100 = \boxed{\textbf{(C)}\ 800}$ unit squares.

Solution 3 (Less Rigorous)
Notice that the first ring around the center square contains $8$ unit squares, the second ring contains $16$ unit squares, the third contains $24$ unit squares, and so on. The number of squares in the $n^\text{th}$ ring is determined by the expression $8 \times n$. Thus, the number of unit squares in the $100^\text{th}$ ring is equal to $8 \times 100$, which equals $\boxed{\textbf{(C) }800}$ unit squares.
-Darth_Cadet