SOLUTION: I am not understanding this problem. Could someone please help me and understand and show work? A gardner wants to create a triangular garden in the shape of a right triangle w

Algebra ->  Triangles -> SOLUTION: I am not understanding this problem. Could someone please help me and understand and show work? A gardner wants to create a triangular garden in the shape of a right triangle w      Log On


   

Question 402800: I am not understanding this problem. Could someone please help me and understand and show work?
A gardner wants to create a triangular garden in the shape of a right triangle with shortest side length x-4y ft and the middle length side x+6y ft. What is an algebraic expression for the area of the garden? Be sure to mulitiply this out and express in simplest correct mathematical form, including units.
Answer by ptaylor(2198) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Now we are told the shortest leg and the middle leg of this triangle so the longest leg has to be the hypotneuse. That means that we know the base (either one) and the height(the other one).
Area of a triangle(A) =(1/2)base(B)*height(H)
A=(1/2)*(x-4y)*(x+6y) expand using FOIL (First, Outer, Inner, Last)
A=(1/2)*(x^2+6xy-4xy-24y)
A=(1/2)*(x^2+2xy-24y)sq ft
Hope this helps---ptaylor