Question 298182: The base of a triangle is 7 cm longer than its altitude. The area of the triangle is
30 cm2. Find the length of the altitude. Answer by nerdybill(7384) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! The base of a triangle is 7 cm longer than its altitude. The area of the triangle is 30 cm2. Find the length of the altitude.
.
Area of any triangle is:
area = (1/2)bh
where
b is base
h is height or altitude
.
Let x = altitude
then
x+7 = base
.
plugging in what is given into:
area = (1/2)bh
30 = (1/2)(x+7)x
60 = (x+7)x
60 = x^2+7x
0 = x^2+7x-60
0 = (x+12)(x-5)
x = 5 cm
