TITLE: Find the area of the shaded region in the figure below:
QUESTION [6 upvotes]: Find the area of the shaded region in the figure below:

I am completely stuck on how to start off this question. Please help on some guidance on how to start it off.

REPLY [3 votes]: Alternatively, refer to the figure:
$\hspace{4cm}$
Let $x$ be the half of the side of the large square. Then the side of the smaller oblique square is $x\sqrt{2}$, how: 

 Pythagorean theorem.

The total green area is $x^2$, how:

 $$\frac12 \cdot x\sqrt{2}\cdot h_1+\frac12 \cdot x\sqrt{2} \cdot h_2=\frac12\cdot x\sqrt{2}\cdot (h_1+h_2)=\frac12\cdot x\sqrt{2}\cdot x\sqrt{2}=x^2.$$ 

The total area of grey and green regions is $2x^2=16+32=48$, how:

 Green area is $x^2$ and grey area is $2\cdot \frac{x^2}{2}=x^2$.

Hence, the required area is $96-(16+20+32)=28$, how:

 the area of the large square $(4x^2)$ minus the total area of grey, green and white regions $16+20+32$.