document.write( "Question 366099: If the length of the base of a triangle is increased by 10 percent and the height is decreased by 20 percent, what is the percent decrease in the area of the triangle? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #260869 by fractalier(6550) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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We can express the original area of a triangle as
\n" ); document.write( " $\"A+=+%281%2F2%29bh\"$
\n" ); document.write( "If the new base is 10% greater, the new b is (1.1)b.
\n" ); document.write( "If the new height is 20% less, the new h is (0.8)h.
\n" ); document.write( "Now substituting, we get
\n" ); document.write( " $\"A+=+%281%2F2%29%281.1%2Ab%29%280.8%2Ah%29\"$ =
\n" ); document.write( " $\"A+=+%281%2F2%29%28.88%29bh\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Notice how the original area is only 88% of what it was...
\n" ); document.write( "So there was a 12% decrease in area.
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