SOLUTION: Please help...I am having serious problems with this and need to see the work to see how this is done...a triangle is 8cm wider than it is tall. The area is 280 cm^2..find the widt

Algebra ->  Expressions-with-variables -> SOLUTION: Please help...I am having serious problems with this and need to see the work to see how this is done...a triangle is 8cm wider than it is tall. The area is 280 cm^2..find the widt      Log On


   

Question 659724: Please help...I am having serious problems with this and need to see the work to see how this is done...a triangle is 8cm wider than it is tall. The area is 280 cm^2..find the width (length of base)...please help...thanks
Answer by MathTherapy(10552) About Me  (Show Source):
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Please help...I am having serious problems with this and need to see the work to see how this is done...a triangle is 8cm wider than it is tall. The area is 280 cm^2..find the width (length of base)...please help...thanks

Let length of base of triangle be B
Then height = B - 8

Since area of triangle = %281%2F2%29%28B%29%28H%29, we can then say that:
280+=+%281%2F2%29%28B%29%28B+-+8%29

280+=+%28%28B%29%28B+-+8%29%29%2F2

B(B - 8) = 560 ------ Cross-multiplying

B%5E2+-+8B+=+560

B%5E2+-+8B+-+560+=+0

(B + 20)(B - 28) = 0

B = - 20 (ignore), or B, or length of base = highlight_green%2828%29 cm

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