Took me a while and I don't think I have the easiest method, but I've got an answer for question 2.
Let angle ABC (and all angles equal to it) be α
This allows us to make some deductions:
1) angle AEB = 180°-α (supplementary to angle CED), and angle BAE = 180°-2α (sum of angles in isoceles triangle ABC), implies that angle ABE = 180°-(180°+α+180°-2α) = 3α-180° (sum of angles in triangle ABE), implies that angle CBD = α-(3α-180°) = 180°-2α (adjecent to angle ABE)
2) DE = 8-2 = 6 (isosceles triangle BCE)
3) if angle ABC = angle CDE and angle ACB = angle DCE, triangles ABC and CDE are similar
Using deduction 1, figure out the length of CD in terms of α using the cosine rule.
CD2=BD2+BC2−2×BD×BC×cos(CBD)
CD2=22+82−2×2×8×cos(180°−2α)
CD=√68+32cos(2α)
CD = EC (isoceles triangle CDE)
Using deduction 2, apply the cosine rule to triangle CDE to find a value for α (if you have a fear of long or ugly equations, look away now).
DE2=CD2+CE2−2×CD×CE×cos(DCE)
62=√68+32cos(2α)2+√68+32cos(2α)2−2×√68+32cos(2α)×√68+32cos(2α)×cos(180°−2α)
0=100+64cos(2α)+200cos(2α)+64cos2(2α)
Then solve the quadratic however you want (graph, formula, PlySmlt2)
cos(2α)=−0.625
α=64.341°
Use this value to find the length of CE and CD.
CD=√68+32cos(2α)
CD=√68+32cos(2×64.341°)
CD=6.9282
Using deduction 3, find the length of AB with similar triangle rules.
DEBC=ECAB
68=6.9282AB
AB=9.24
Feel free to ask if any of my thinking is unclear or I've made a mistake.