document.write( "Question 615016: Sharks' teeth are shaped like triangles. The height of a tooth of a certain shark is 1 cm longer than the base. The area is 21 cm^2. Find the height and base. \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #386866 by nerdybill(7384) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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Sharks' teeth are shaped like triangles. The height of a tooth of a certain shark is 1 cm longer than the base. The area is 21 cm^2. Find the height and base.
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\n" ); document.write( "Let x = base
\n" ); document.write( "then
\n" ); document.write( "x+1 = height
\n" ); document.write( ".
\n" ); document.write( "area for any triangle is:
\n" ); document.write( "(1/2)bh = a
\n" ); document.write( "(1/2)x(x+1)= 21
\n" ); document.write( "multiplying both sides by 2:
\n" ); document.write( "x(x+1)= 42
\n" ); document.write( "x^2+x = 42
\n" ); document.write( "x^2+x-42=0
\n" ); document.write( "(x+7)(x-6) = 0
\n" ); document.write( "x = {-7,6}
\n" ); document.write( "we can throw out the negative solution (extraneous) leaving:
\n" ); document.write( "x = 6 cm (base)
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\n" ); document.write( "height:
\n" ); document.write( "x+1 = 6+1 = 7 cm \n" ); document.write( "

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