document.write( "Question 76287: New chapter/Homework problem. Set up and Solve equation using the zero-factor property. Word problem. thanks!\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "A ladder forms a right triangle with the ground and one wall of a building. the base of the triangle is 5 feet less than the height. If the area of the triangle is 18 square feet, find the height? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #54734 by tutorcecilia(2152)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Use the formula for the area of a triangle:
\n" ); document.write( "A=1/2(base)(height)
\n" ); document.write( "Area=18
\n" ); document.write( "Base=height - 5 feet
\n" ); document.write( "Height=h
\n" ); document.write( ".
\n" ); document.write( "Plug-in the values and solve.
\n" ); document.write( ".
\n" ); document.write( "A=1/2(base)(height)
\n" ); document.write( "18=(1/2)(h-5)(h)
\n" ); document.write( "18=(1/2)(h^2-5h)
\n" ); document.write( "(2)(18)=(2)(1/2)(h^2-5h)
\n" ); document.write( "36=h^2-5h
\n" ); document.write( "36-36=h^2-5h-36
\n" ); document.write( "0=h^2-5h-36
\n" ); document.write( "0=(h-9)(h+4)
\n" ); document.write( "h=9
\n" ); document.write( "or h=-4 (eliminate this answer since a measurement cannto be a negative number]
\n" ); document.write( ".
\n" ); document.write( "Check by plugging all of the values back into the original equation:
\n" ); document.write( "A=1/2(base)(height)
\n" ); document.write( "18=(1/2)(9-5)(9)
\n" ); document.write( "18=(1/2)(4)(9)
\n" ); document.write( "18=18 [checks out]\r
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