SOLUTION: Which equation would best help solve the following problem? The height of a triangle is 4 m less than its base. The area of the triangle is 48 m2. Find the length of the base.

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Question 1151854: Which equation would best help solve the following problem?
The height of a triangle is 4 m less than its base. The area of the triangle is 48 m2. Find the length of the base.

Found 3 solutions by MathLover1, josmiceli, Alan3354:
Answer by MathLover1(20849) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The height of a triangle is 4m less than its base.
=>h=b-4m
The area of the triangle is 48m%5E2
=> A=%281%2F2%29%2Ab%2Ah
=> 48=%281%2F2%29%2Ab%2A%28b-4%29
=> 48=%281%2F2%29%2A%28b%5E2-4b%29
=> 96=b%5E2-4b
=> b%5E2-4b-96=0.....factor
=> b%5E2-12b%2B8b-96=0
=> %28b%5E2-12b%29%2B%288b-96%29=0
=> b%28b-12%29%2B8%28b-12%29=0
=>%28b+-+12%29+%28b+%2B+8%29+=+0...we need only positive solution
highlight%28b+=12m%29+ =>the length of the base
=>h=b-4m
=>h=12m-4m
=>h=8m
check the area:

A=%281%2F2%29%2Ab%2Ah
A=%281%2F2%29%2A12m%2A8m....simplify
A=6m%2A8m
A=48m%5E2

Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
+A+=+%281%2F2%29%2Ab%2Ah+
+48+=+%281%2F2%29%2Ab%2Ah+
(1) +b%2Ah+=+96+
and
(2) +h+=+b+-+4+
-------------------------
Plug (2) into (1)
(1) +b%2A%28+b+-+4+%29+=+96+
(1) +b%5E2+-+4b+-+96+=+0+
(1) +%28+b+-+12+%29%2A%28+b+%2B+8+%29+=+0+
(1) +b+=+12+
The base is 12 m
----------------------
check:
+A+=+%281%2F2%29%2Ab%2Ah+
+A+=+%281%2F2%29%2A12%2Ah+
+48+=+6h+
+h+=+8+
and
+h+=+b+-+4+
+8+=+12+-+4+
+8+=+8+
OK


Answer by Alan3354(69443) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Which equation would best help solve the following problem?
=============
The implication is that there are some equations from which we choose one.
No equations were shown.
================
Wake up.