document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=176691>Question 176691</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The area of a triangle is 126cm^2, and the altitude is 3 less than twice the base. Find the length of the base.  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #131757 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=solver91311><B>solver91311(24713)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=solver91311><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/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=solver91311><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=131757\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The area of a triangle is given by <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=A=%28bh%29%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"A=%28bh%29%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.  Let the measure of the base be <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, then we are given that the altitude is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2x+-+3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2x+-+3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, so <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=A%28x%29+=+%28x+%282x+-+3%29%29%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"A%28x%29+=+%28x+%282x+-+3%29%29%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and we are given that the area of this particular triangle is 126 square centimeters.  Therefore:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x+%282x+-+3%29%29%2F2+=+126 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x+%282x+-+3%29%29%2F2+=+126\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%282x%5E2+-+3x%29%2F2+=+126 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%282x%5E2+-+3x%29%2F2+=+126\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2x%5E2+-+3x+=+252 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2x%5E2+-+3x+=+252\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2x%5E2+-+3x+-+252+=+0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2x%5E2+-+3x+-+252+=+0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Solve the quadratic by ordinary means.  You can factor, complete the square, or use the quadratic formula -- all three methods work.  You will get two roots as you should expect, except that one of them will be < 0.  This absurd result for the measure of a side of a triangle is an extraneous root caused by squaring the variable in the process of solving the problem.  Exclude the negative root.  The positive root is your answer.\r<BR>\n" );
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