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Please help me with this

Please help me with this-example-1
User Hulkstance
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1 Answer

9 votes
9 votes

Answer:

  • altitude: 16 cm
  • base: 12 cm

Explanation:

The given relation can be used with the formula for the area of a triangle to give an equation for the altitude or base.

Setup

Let b represent the length of the base. Then the altitude (height) is (b+4). The area formula tells us the area is ...

A = 1/2bh

Using given values, the equation becomes ...

96 = 1/2b(b +4)

Solution

Simplifying the equation and multiplying by 2, we have ...

192 = b² +4b

Adding (4/2)² = 4 will complete the square.

196 = b² +4b +4 = (b +2)²

Taking the square root gives ...

14 = b +2 . . . . . . we are not interested in the negative root

12 = b . . . . . . . . subtract 2

16 = b+4 . . . . . find the altitude

The base is 12 cm; the altitude is 16 cm.

User Fjalcaraz
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3.0k points