SOLUTION: the base of a triangle is 4 meters longer than its height, and its area is 16 square meters. find the base and the height

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Question 1164480: the base of a triangle is 4 meters longer than its height, and its area is 16 square meters. find the base and the height
Answer by Cromlix(4381) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Hi,
Make the height = x
and the base = x + 4.
Area of triangle = 1/2 (base * height) [* = times]
1/2((x + 4) * x) = 16
1/2(x^2 + 4x) = 16
x^2 + 4x = 32 (multiply both sides by 2)
Rearrange
x^2 + 4x - 32 = 0
(x + 8)(x - 4) + 0
Ignore x = -8
answer is x = 4
Base = 8m
Height = 4m
1/2( 8 * 4)= 16
Hope this helps. :-)