SOLUTION: The formula for the area of a trapezoid is A = h(B+b) / 2. . The area of the trapezoidal truss, is 24 square meters. Find the height of the trapezoid if one base is 8 meters and

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Question 1128456: The formula for the area of a trapezoid is A = h(B+b) / 2.
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The area of the trapezoidal truss, is 24 square meters. Find the height of the trapezoid if one base is 8 meters and the other base is the same as the height.
Answer by greenestamps(13200) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


Let B be the known base of length 8; then b (the other base) and h (the height) are the same.

Set B=8 and b=h in the area formula, knowing that the area is 24, and solve the resulting equation for h.

24+=+%28h%288%2Bh%29%29%2F2
48+=+8h%2Bh%5E2
h%5E2%2B8h-48+=+0
%28h%2B12%29%28h-4%29+=+0
h+=+-12 or h+=+4

Clearly a negative value makes no sense in the problem, so the height is h=4.

ANSWER: The height is 4 meters.

CHECK: %284%288%2B4%29%29%2F2+=+48%2F2+=+24