SOLUTION: The height of a triangle is 2 ft less than the base x. The area is 40 ft squared.

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Question 1146170: The height of a triangle is 2 ft less than the base x. The area is 40 ft squared.
Answer by greenestamps(13200) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


V = (1/2)bh

The height is 2 feet less than the base, so

base = x
height = x-2

The volume is 40:
%281%2F2%29%28x%29%28x-2%29+=+40
x%28x-2%29+=+80

That's a quadratic equation; solve it by your favorite method.

If an algebraic solution is not required, a very little bit of mental arithmetic should allow you to find two numbers that differ by 2 and whose product is 80.