document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=138788>Question 138788</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> 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. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #101258 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Earlsdon><B>Earlsdon(6294)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Earlsdon><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=101258\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Start with the formula for the area of a triangle:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=A+=+%281%2F2%29bh ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"A+=+%281%2F2%29bh\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > where b = the base and h = the height.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "You know that:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "A = 30 sq.ft.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "h = b+4 or b = h-4<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Find the height,h.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=30+=+%281%2F2%29bh ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"30+=+%281%2F2%29bh\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Substitute b = h-4<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=30+=+%281%2F2%29%28h-4%29h ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"30+=+%281%2F2%29%28h-4%29h\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Simplify.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=30+=+%281%2F2%29%28h%5E2-4h%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"30+=+%281%2F2%29%28h%5E2-4h%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply both sides by 2.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=60+=+h%5E2-4h ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"60+=+h%5E2-4h\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Subtract 60 from both sides.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=h%5E2-4h-60+=+0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"h%5E2-4h-60+=+0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Factor.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28h-10%29%28h%2B6%29+=+0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28h-10%29%28h%2B6%29+=+0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=h-10+=+0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"h-10+=+0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=h%2B6+=+0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"h%2B6+=+0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "So, h = 10 or h = -6  Discard the negative solution as the height can only be positive.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The height of the sail is 10 feet. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );