SOLUTION: the area of a triangle is 6 square inches the hieght of the triangle is 5 inches less than the house. what are the measurements of the base and the height of the triangle.

Algebra ->  Triangles -> SOLUTION: the area of a triangle is 6 square inches the hieght of the triangle is 5 inches less than the house. what are the measurements of the base and the height of the triangle.      Log On


   

Question 170043: the area of a triangle is 6 square inches the hieght of the triangle is 5 inches less than the house. what are the measurements of the base and the height of the triangle.
Answer by jojo14344(1513) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

I think you mean as the "height is 5 inches less than the base?"
We'll base the computation as per condition:
A%5BT%5D=%281%2F2%29bh
b=x%28in%29
h=x-5%28in%29
So, 6=%281%2F2%29%28x%29%28x-5%29
12=x%5E2-5x ----> x%5E2-5x-12=0
Remember ---system%28a=1%2Cb=-5%2Cc=-12%29
By Quadratic Eqn: x=%28-b%2B-sqrt%28b%5E2-4ac%29%29%2F%282a%29
x=%28-%28-5%29%2B-sqrt%28-5%5E2-4%2A1%2A-12%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29
x=%285%2B-sqrt%2825%2B48%29%29%2F2 --->x=%285%2B-sqrt%2873%29%29%2F2=%285%2B-8.544%29%2F2
2 values:
x=%285%2B8.544%29%2F2=13.544%2F2=highlight%286.772inches=base%29
x=%285-8.544%29%2F2=-3.544%2F2=-1.772, don't use
Height: 6.772-5=highlight%281.772inches=h%29
Check,
6in%5E2=%281%2F2%29%286.772%29%281.772%29
6in%5E2=%281%2F2%29%2812%29
6in%5E2=6in%5E2
Thank you,
Jojo