Question

The height of a triangle is 2 centimeters greater than the base. The area of the triangle is 161.5 square centimeters. Find the length of the base and the height of the triangle.

Answer 1

H = 19 cm

B = 17 cm

Explanation:

A = (H x B) / 2 (formula for the area of a triangle)

161.5 = ((X + 2)(X)) / 2 (with X acting as the base)

323 = X^2 + 2X

0 = x^2 + 2x - 323

(X - 17) (X + 19) = 0

X = 17 or X = -19

You can't have a negative number as a side length so -19 doesn't work.

Because the height is larger than the base, you add the 2 to the one you will use as the height. Then just add the units (cm) because the area is in cm squared.