I need help with this problem.

(Just imagine a small square with 5x-1 at the top of the square, 2x on the left side of the square and in the right hand corner of the square there is a box on the top is a 3 and on the left side is a 2.) You have to figure it out the area of each shaded region in simplest form.

since you say it is a square, its sides must be equal

so 5x-1 = 2x
x = 1/3 , mmmhhh!

then you say there is a box in the corner of the square.
A box is 3-dimensional, a square has 2 dimensions.

What is the "shaded" region?

Sorry, I don't follow you question, perhaps somebody else can see what you mean.

You know how when you have a right angle in the corner... well that's what the box that has 3 on the top and 2 on the left side is.

Do understand what I mean now?

I can't reconcile the fact,since the first square must be 2/3 by 2/3, that there can be a "box" inside it with sides 3 and 2.

What part of the original square was 5x-1 ?
Was it the entire length or just part of it.
Perhaps if you name the vertices with letters A, B, etc and length of sides as AB, somebody here can figure out what you mean.

anybody else follow Madeline's problem?

I too am lost.

To find the areas of the shaded regions in the diagram you provided, we can use basic geometry formulas. Let's break down the steps to find the area of each shaded region:

1. Find the area of the large square:
Since the length of each side of the square is given by 5x - 1, the area is (5x - 1) * (5x - 1).

2. Find the area of the small square:
The length of each side of the small square is given by 2x, so the area is (2x) * (2x).

3. Find the area of the rectangle inside the large square:
The length of the rectangle is (5x - 1) - (2x) = 3x - 1, and the width is 3. Therefore, the area is (3x - 1) * 3.

4. Find the area of the shaded region:
The shaded region can be found by subtracting the area of the small square and the area of the rectangle inside the large square from the area of the large square.
Shaded Area = Area of Large Square - Area of Small Square - Area of Rectangle

5. Simplify the expressions:
If necessary, simplify each expression to its simplest form.

By following these steps, you should be able to find the area of each shaded region in the simplest form.