SOLUTION: The area of a right triangle is 99 square feet. The length of the triangle is 4 feet larger than the width. What is the width of the triangle. Type the larger of your two answers a

Algebra ->  Triangles -> SOLUTION: The area of a right triangle is 99 square feet. The length of the triangle is 4 feet larger than the width. What is the width of the triangle. Type the larger of your two answers a      Log On


   

Question 899025: The area of a right triangle is 99 square feet. The length of the triangle is 4 feet larger than the width. What is the width of the triangle. Type the larger of your two answers as a decimal rounded to the nearest hundredth. Note: The area of a triangle equals 0.5(length)(width).
Answer by mananth(16946) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
let width be x
length = (x+4)
it is a right triangle
(1/2)x*(x+4)=99
multiply by 2
x(x+4)=198
x^2+4x=198
x^2+4x-198=0
solve quadratic
Find the roots of the equation by quadratic formula

Find the roots of the equation by quadratic formula

a= 1 , b= 4 , c= -198

b^2-4ac= 16 + 792
b^2-4ac= 808
%09sqrt%28%09808%09%29=%0928.43%09
x=%28-b%2B-sqrt%28b%5E2-4ac%29%29%2F%282a%29
x1=%28-b%2Bsqrt%28b%5E2-4ac%29%29%2F%282a%29
x1=( -4 + 28.43 )/ 2
x1= 12.21
x2=%28-b-sqrt%28b%5E2-4ac%29%29%2F%282a%29
x2=( -4 -28.43 ) / 2
x2= -16.21
Ignore negative value
x= 12.21
12.21 & 16.21