SOLUTION: Help!! I am in math two and need help really bad. I solved this problem: The height of a triangular window is 3 feet less than its base. If the area of the window is 20 square fee

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Question 1104597: Help!! I am in math two and need help really bad. I solved this problem: The height of a triangular window is 3 feet less than its base. If the area of the window is 20
square feet, find the dimensions of the window. But I don't know if I got the correct answer. PLEASE show me the work and the answer. Thank you so so so soooooo much!!! Have a blessed day.
Found 2 solutions by Alan3354, ikleyn:
Answer by Alan3354(69443) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
What answer did you get?

Answer by ikleyn(52786) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
Let "x" be the length of the base (in feet).

Then the height is (x-3) ft, according to the condition.


The area of a triangle is half the product the base and the altitude.


It gives you an equation

%281%2F2%29%2Ax%2A%28x-3%29 = 20,


x*(x-3) = 2*20 = 40

x^2 -3x - 40 = 0,

(x-8)*(x+5) = 0 ====>  x= 8 is the only positive solution.


Answer.  The base is 8 ft.  The height is 8-3 = 5 ft.

Solved.