SOLUTION: A rectangle and a triangle have equal areas. The length of the rectangle is 12 inches, and its width is 8 inches. If the base of the triangle is 32 inches, what is the length, in i

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Question 29878: A rectangle and a triangle have equal areas. The length of the rectangle is 12 inches, and its width is 8 inches. If the base of the triangle is 32 inches, what is the length, in inches, of the altitude drawn to the base?
Answer by Earlsdon(6103) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
First calculate the area of the rectangle using the given dimensions, L = 12" and W = 8"
A = L*W
A = 12*8 = 96 sq.in.
Now, the area of a triangle is given by:
A+=+%281%2F2%29bh and this area is = 96 sq.in., so you can write:
%281%2F2%29bh+=+96 but the base, b, = 32", so substituting this for b, you have:
%281%2F2%29%2832%29h+=+96 Solve for h.
16h+=+96
h+=+6inches.