SOLUTION: The area of a triangular sheet of paper is 18 square inches. One side of the triangle is 14 inches more than two times the length of the altitude to that side. Find the length of t

Question 500772: The area of a triangular sheet of paper is 18 square inches. One side of the triangle is 14 inches more than two times the length of the altitude to that side. Find the length of that side and the altitude to that side.

I have looked at the examples on here and struggled even with their guidance as to where some of the numbers come from so far I have..
base=2a+14
Altitude=a
area= 18
so.. 2a+14= 18... so 2a=4.. I'm just very lost.
Then I got 2x^2+14x-36=0 but when I tried to solve for it nothing was divisible by -18 that would equal 7 after you take a 2 out of the above question..
Found 2 solutions by solver91311, scott8148:
Answer by solver91311(24713) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

The area of a triangle is the base times the altitude divided by 2.

Your expression for the base is spot on, but you didn't multiply by the altitude nor did you divide by 2.

But then you somehow came up with the correct quadratic equation somewhere out of thin air.

Let's follow the steps to get there first:

Base:
Altitude:
Area:

Divide by 2:

You should be able to get it from there. Remember to toss out the negative root.

John

My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it

Answer by scott8148(6628) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
"Then I got 2x^2+14x-36=0" ___ 2(x - 2)(x + 9) = 0
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