document.write( "Question 889962: Find the base of a triangle with an area of 8 square meters if the altitude of the triangle is 6 meters less than the base
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Algebra.Com's Answer #538566 by harpazo(655) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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A = 1/2 times base times height\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Let b = base\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "8 = 1/2 times b times b - 6\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "8 = (b/2)(b-6)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "8 = (b^2-6b)/2\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "8 * 2 = b^2-6b\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "16 = b^2-6b\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "b^2 -6b - 16 = 0\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Solve the quadratic equation for b to find your answer.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(b - 8)(8 + 2) = 0\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Set each factor to zero and solve for b individually.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "b - 8 = 0\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "b = 8\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "b + 2 = 0 \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "b = -2\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Reject b = -2 because distance cannot be NEGATIVE.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Answer: Base = 8 meters.\r
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