document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=129879>Question 129879</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The base of a triangular sail is 5m shorter than its height. The area is 18m^2. Find the base and the height of the sail. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #94848 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><B>jim_thompson5910(35256)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=94848\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Let x=height\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Since the \"base of a triangular sail is 5m shorter than its height\", we have the equality <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=b=x-5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"b=x-5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=A=%28b%2Ah%29%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"A=%28b%2Ah%29%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Start with the formula for the area of a triangle\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=18=%28%28x-5%29%2Ax%29%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"18=%28%28x-5%29%2Ax%29%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Plug in <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=b=x-5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"b=x-5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=h=x ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"h=x\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=A=18 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"A=18\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=36=%28x-5%29%2Ax ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"36=%28x-5%29%2Ax\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply both sides by 2\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=36=x%5E2-5x ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"36=x%5E2-5x\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Distribute\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=0=x%5E2-5x-36 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"0=x%5E2-5x-36\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Subtract 36 from both sides\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=0=%28x-9%29%28x%2B4%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"0=%28x-9%29%28x%2B4%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Factor the right side (note: if you need help with factoring, check out this <a  rel=nofollow HREF=http://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/playground/change-this-name4450.solver>solver</a>)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now set each factor equal to zero:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=-4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=-4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >    Now solve for x in each case\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So our possible answers are\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=-4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=-4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "However, since a negative height doesn't make sense, our only solution is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So the height is 9 m\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now subtract 5 from the height to get the base\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So the base is 4 m\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Check:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=A=%28b%2Ah%29%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"A=%28b%2Ah%29%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Start with the formula for the area of a triangle\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=18=%284%2A9%29%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"18=%284%2A9%29%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Plug in <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=b=4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"b=4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=h=9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"h=9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=A=18 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"A=18\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=18=36%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"18=36%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=18=18 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"18=18\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Divide. Since the two sides of the equation are equal, this verifies our answer.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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