SOLUTION: The triangular mainsail on a catamaran has a height 4 feet more than the width of its base. If the area of the sail is 30 square feet, find the height.

Question 138788: The triangular mainsail on a catamaran has a height 4 feet more than the width of its base. If the area of the sail is 30 square feet, find the height.
Answer by Earlsdon(6294) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Start with the formula for the area of a triangle:
where b = the base and h = the height.
You know that:
A = 30 sq.ft.
h = b+4 or b = h-4
Find the height,h.
Substitute b = h-4
Simplify.
Multiply both sides by 2.

Subtract 60 from both sides.
Factor.

or
So, h = 10 or h = -6 Discard the negative solution as the height can only be positive.
The height of the sail is 10 feet.
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