document.write( "Question 886119: A portion of a wall is a right triangle with a height that is 3 feet more than its base. If the area of the triangle is 5 square feet, find the base. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #535697 by nerdybill(7384)\"\" \"About 
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A portion of a wall is a right triangle with a height that is 3 feet more than its base. If the area of the triangle is 5 square feet, find the base.
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\n" ); document.write( "Let b = base
\n" ); document.write( "then
\n" ); document.write( "b+3 = height
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\n" ); document.write( "(1/2)bh = area
\n" ); document.write( "(1/2)b(b+3) = 5
\n" ); document.write( "b(b+3) = 10
\n" ); document.write( "b^2+3b = 10
\n" ); document.write( "b^2+3b-10 = 0
\n" ); document.write( "(b+5)(b-2) = 0
\n" ); document.write( "b = {-5, 2}
\n" ); document.write( "throw out the negative solution (extraneous) leaving:
\n" ); document.write( "b = 2 feet (base)\r
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