SOLUTION: The area of a triangle is 20 square feet. The height of the triangle is 2 feet more than twice its base. Find the base and height of the triangle.

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Question 275183: The area of a triangle is 20 square feet. The height of the triangle is 2 feet more than twice its base. Find the base and height of the triangle.
Answer by dabanfield(803) (Show Source):
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The area of a triangle is 20 square feet. The height of the triangle is 2 feet more than twice its base. Find the base and height of the triangle.
Area = (base*height)/2
Let h be the base and h the height of the triangle. Then we have:
1.) h = 2*b + 2 and
2.) 20 = (b*h)/2
Substituting 2*b + 2 for h in equation 2.):
20 = (b*(2b+2)/2
40 = 2b^2 + 2b
2b^2 + 2b - 40 = 0
b^2 + b - 20 = 0
(b+5)*(b-4) = 0
b = -5 or b = 4. We need the positive solution so b = 4. Calculate h = 2b + 2.