document.write( "Question 444877: The altitude of a triangle is 5 m less than its base. The area of the triangle is 42 m2. Find the length of the base. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #306593 by nerdybill(7384)\"\" \"About 
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The altitude of a triangle is 5 m less than its base. The area of the triangle is 42 m2. Find the length of the base.
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\n" ); document.write( "Let b = base
\n" ); document.write( "then
\n" ); document.write( "b-5 = altitude
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\n" ); document.write( "since we know that the area for any triangle is
\n" ); document.write( "(1/2)bh
\n" ); document.write( "where
\n" ); document.write( "b is base
\n" ); document.write( "h is height or altitude
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\n" ); document.write( "(1/2)b(b-5) = 42
\n" ); document.write( "b(b-5) = 84
\n" ); document.write( "b^2-5b = 84
\n" ); document.write( "b^2-5b-84 = 0
\n" ); document.write( "(b-12)(b+7) = 0
\n" ); document.write( "b = {12, -7}
\n" ); document.write( "toss out the negative solution leaving:
\n" ); document.write( "b = 12 meters \n" ); document.write( "
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