解:(1) $\because x+y=4,$
$\therefore (x+y)^2 = x^2 +2xy +y^2 =16,$
又$\because x^2 +y^2=9,$
$\therefore 2xy=16-9=7,$
$\therefore xy=3.5。$
(3) 由题意得两块直角三角尺全等,$∠ AOB=∠ COD=90°,$
$\therefore AO=CO,$$BO=DO,$
$\because A,O,D$共线,$B,O,C$共线,
$\therefore ∠ AOC=180°-∠ COD=90°,$$∠ BOD=90°,$
设$AO=CO=x,$$BO=DO=y,$
$\because AD=AO+OD=x+y=12,$
$\therefore (x+y)^2=12^2,$即$x^2 +y^2 +2xy=144,$
又$\because S_{△ AOC}+S_{△ BOD}=\frac{1}{2}x^2 +\frac{1}{2}y^2=40,$
$\therefore x^2 +y^2=80,$
代入得$2xy=144-80=64,$即$xy=32,$
$\therefore S_{△ AOB}=\frac{1}{2}· OA· OB=\frac{1}{2}xy=16,$
即一块直角三角尺的面积为16。