Question 500952: The base of a triangle is 5 inches less than the altitude. The area of the triangle is 42 square inches. Find the base in inches. Answer by mananth(16946) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! altitude be x
base = x-5
area = 1/2 * base * altitude
42=1/2*x(x-5)
2*42=x(x-5)
84=x^2-5x
x^2-5x-84=0
x^2-12x+7x-84=0
x(x-12)+7(x-12)=0
(x-12)(x+7)=0
x= 12 in the altitude
base = 5 in
