(a) 32 (2 - √2)
As is seen in the given figure, the sides of one square are parallel to the diagonals of another square. Also, square ABCD and EFGH have same area.

⇒ Sides of square ABCD and square EFGH are 4 cm each.
Let DP = a units
As DP = PG = GQ = QC = a units and ∠G = 90º
∴ PQ = a√2 units
∴ DC = DP + PQ + QC = (a + a√2 + a) units = a ( 2 + √2) units
Area of ΔPGQ = \(\frac{1}{2}\) x a x a = \(\frac{a^2}{2}\) sq units.
Area of all triangles outside square ABCD = 4 x \(\frac{a^2}{2}\) = 2a2 sq units
Also, side of square = 4 ⇒ a ( 2 + √2) = 4 ⇒ a = \(\frac{4}{2+\sqrt2}\)
∴ Total area of the four Δs outside square ABCD
= 2 x \(\bigg(\frac{4}{2+\sqrt2}\bigg)^2\) = \(\frac{2\times16}{(4+4\sqrt2+2)}\)
= \(\frac{16}{3+2\sqrt2}\) x \(\frac{3-2\sqrt2}{3-2\sqrt2}\) = 16 (3 - 2√2)
∴ Total area of the figure = Area of square ABCD + Area of the four Δs outside ABCD
= 16 +16 (3 -2√2)
= 16 + (4 - 2√2) = 32 (2 - √2) cm2.