A new approach to find value of $x^2+\frac{1}{x^2}$ When I was teaching in a college class, I write this question on board. 
If we now $\bf{x+\dfrac{1}{x}=4}$ show the value of  $\bf{x^2+\dfrac{1}{x^2}=14}$
Some student asks me for a multi idea to show or prove that.
I tried these : $$ $$1 :$$\left(x+\frac{1}{x}\right)^2=4^2\\x^2+\frac{1}{x^2}+2x\times \frac{1}{x}=16\\x^2+\frac{1}{x^2}=16-2 $$
 2:solving quadratic equation ,and putting one of roots$$x+\frac{1}{x}=4\\\frac{x^2+1}{x}=4\\x^2+1=4x\\x^2-4x+1=0\\x=\frac{-b\pm \sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}=\frac{-(-4)\pm \sqrt{(-4)^2-4(1)(+1)}}{2}=\\x=\frac{4\pm \sqrt{12}}{2}=2\pm \sqrt{3}\\x=2+\sqrt3 \to x^2=4+4\sqrt3+3=7+4\sqrt3\\x^2+\frac{1}{x^2}=7+4\sqrt3+\frac{1}{7+4\sqrt3}=\\7+4\sqrt3+\frac{1}{7+4\sqrt3}\cdot\frac{7-4\sqrt3}{7-4\sqrt3}=\\7+4\sqrt3+\frac{7-4\sqrt3}{49-16\cdot 3}=\\7+4\sqrt3+\frac{7-4\sqrt3}{1}=14$$
3: visual approach .assume side length of a square is $x+\frac{1}{x}=4$
now I am looking for new idea to proof.Any hint will be appreciated.(more visual proof - geometrical - trigonometrical - using complex numbers ...)

Here's a trigonometric approach:
Let $x=\tan\theta=\sin\theta/\cos\theta$.  Then
$$4=x+{1\over x}={\sin\theta\over\cos\theta}+{\cos\theta\over\sin\theta}={1\over\sin\theta\cos\theta}={2\over\sin2\theta}$$
so $\sin2\theta=1/2$.  Now
$$x^2+{1\over x^2}={\sin^2\theta\over\cos^2\theta}+{\cos^2\theta\over\sin^2\theta}={1\over\cos^2\theta}-1+{1\over\sin^2\theta}-1={1\over\sin^2\theta\cos^2\theta}-2\\
={4\over\sin^22\theta}-2=16-2=14$$
