SOLUTION: A portion of a wall is a right triangle with a height that is 3 feet more than its base. If the area of the triangle is 5 square feet, find the base.
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Question 886119: A portion of a wall is a right triangle with a height that is 3 feet more than its base. If the area of the triangle is 5 square feet, find the base. Answer by nerdybill(7384) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! A portion of a wall is a right triangle with a height that is 3 feet more than its base. If the area of the triangle is 5 square feet, find the base.
.
Let b = base
then
b+3 = height
.
(1/2)bh = area
(1/2)b(b+3) = 5
b(b+3) = 10
b^2+3b = 10
b^2+3b-10 = 0
(b+5)(b-2) = 0
b = {-5, 2}
throw out the negative solution (extraneous) leaving:
b = 2 feet (base)
