SOLUTION: Find the base (b) and height (h) of a triangle with an area of 2 square feet if its base is 3 feet longer than its height and the formula for area is A=1/2bh

Algebra ->  Complex Numbers Imaginary Numbers Solvers and Lesson -> SOLUTION: Find the base (b) and height (h) of a triangle with an area of 2 square feet if its base is 3 feet longer than its height and the formula for area is A=1/2bh      Log On


   

Question 187384: Find the base (b) and height (h) of a triangle with an area of 2 square feet if its base is 3 feet longer than its height and the formula for area is A=1/2bh
Answer by jojo14344(1513) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


Let Height=h=x(ft)
Let the Base=b=3+x(ft)
With Area=A=2ft^2
Then, A=%281%2F2%29bh
2%28ft%5E2%29=%281%2F2%29%283%2Bx%29%28x%29 --->2=%281%2F2%29%283x%2Bx%5E2%29, Cross multiply
3x%2Bx%5E2=2%2A2--->x%5E2%2B3x-4=0
Being a perfect square: %28x%2B4%29%28x-1%29=0
Answer: red%28x=1ft%29 Height; discard, x=-4
And the Base= 3%2B1=red%284ft%29
In doubt? Go back our Eqn----> 2ft%5E2=%281%2Fcross%282%29%29%28cross%284%292%29%281%29
2ft%5E2=2ft%5E2
Thank you,
Jojo