Answer:
![3\sqrt{3} + 72](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=3%5Csqrt%7B3%7D%20%2B%2072)
Step-by-step explanation:
I attached an image to aid the understanding of the question.
Looking at the image, we see that the 8 shaded parts are congruent, as affirmed in the question as well. And we are told that T = 3, this implies that the area of the square with T as it's side is 9ft². Since all the 8 squares are congruenrt, it means each square has its area to be 9. Therefore, the total area of the 8 shaded squares will be:
![9 \times 8 = 72ft^{2}](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=9%20%5Ctimes%208%20%3D%2072ft%5E%7B2%7D)
It remains the area of the shaded square with side S.
From the question, we have the following ratio:
I did not add ± because length is always positive, so the case of negative is eliminated.
Now the areas of S is ![3\sqrt{3}](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=3%5Csqrt%7B3%7D)
Therefore, the total area of the shaded squares is
![3\sqrt{3} + 72](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=3%5Csqrt%7B3%7D%20%2B%2072)