document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=443371>Question 443371</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> the altitude of a triangle is 5 m less than its base. The area of the triangle is 42 meters squared find 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 #305817 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=swincher4391><B>swincher4391(1107)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-12.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=swincher4391><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=swincher4391><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=305817\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The altitude (AKA height) can be represented as b-5. The base is b. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Recall that the formula for area is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=A+=+%281%2F2%29b%2Ah ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"A+=+%281%2F2%29b%2Ah\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=42+=+%281%2F2%29+%2A+b+%2A+%28b-5%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"42+=+%281%2F2%29+%2A+b+%2A+%28b-5%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >}<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=84+=+b%5E2+-5b ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"84+=+b%5E2+-5b\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=b%5E2-5b+-84+=+0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"b%5E2-5b+-84+=+0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Let's factor this:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "What adds to -5 and multiplies to -84?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "-12 and 7.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So we can factor this as (b-12)(b+7)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So b =-7, b = 12\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "A negative length doesn't make sense so...\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The base is 12.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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