# The area of a square with right triangle inside it

1. Nov 15, 2014

### JasonHathaway

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

I need to find the area of the square in the following figure:

2. Relevant equations
Basic Trig relations.

3. The attempt at a solution
I aimed to find the length of BC, but first I had to find the unknowns of the right triangle CDE, which are EC=5m, <DCE=36.86ْ , <DEC=53.13ْ .

Then I thought that I can use some trig relation for angles to get <BDC and BCD respectively (since the angles of the square are all 90ْ).

And that's where I am stuck. Any help?

Last edited: Nov 15, 2014
2. Nov 15, 2014

### phinds

figure shows as a broken link

3. Nov 15, 2014

### JasonHathaway

Just fixed it. Sorry about that.

4. Nov 15, 2014

### phinds

Hm ... interesting problem. It seems as though there's likely to be some trick to it that you are not seeing, but whatever it is, I'm not seeing it either.

5. Nov 15, 2014

### ehild

The upper two right triangles AED and BDC are similar. Look at the angles.

Last edited: Nov 15, 2014
6. Nov 15, 2014

### LCKurtz

Call BC = s, DB = y, and AD = s-y. It's easy to get two equations in s and y.

7. Nov 18, 2014

### JasonHathaway

I got it now. Thank you everyone for your help. I really appreciate it.