Question 174131
you are over thinking this


"the height of the sail is x+3 meters" __ 5+3=8


area of a triangle is 1/2 * base * height


56 = 1/2 * b * 8


b = 14



BUT--the question may be asking for the general solution


x^2+5x+6 = 1/2 * b * x+3


dividing by x+3 __ x+2 = 1/2 * b


b = 2x+4