SOLUTION: I need help solving this problem. Great white sharks have triangular teeth with a height that is 1 centimeter longer than the base. If the area of one tooth is 15 square centi

Algebra ->  Systems-of-equations -> SOLUTION: I need help solving this problem. Great white sharks have triangular teeth with a height that is 1 centimeter longer than the base. If the area of one tooth is 15 square centi      Log On


   

Question 15911: I need help solving this problem.
Great white sharks have triangular teeth with a height that is 1 centimeter
longer than the base. If the area of one tooth is 15 square centimeters, find
its base and height. Remember that the area of a triangle is one-half its base
times its height.
Answer by pwac(253) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x=base so area of triangle in this instance is
%28x%2B1%29%2A%28x%2F2%29=15
%28x%5E2%2Bx%29%2F2=15 multipy both sides by 2
x%5E2%2Bx=30 subtract 30 from both sides to get Quadratic
x%5E2%2Bx-30=0which factors to
(x-5)(x+6)=0
x-5=0
x=5
x+6=0
x=-6
so obviously your answer is x=5 centimeters(length of base)
Pete