Question

16. Jessica was given the area and the length of the base of a triangle. A = 17.5 units, b = 5 units. She solved the formula for area for h to find the height of the triangle. Determine if Jessica solved the equation correctly and found the correct answer. If not, describe what mistake she made and solve the formula for h correctly and justify your steps.

A = 1/2bh
1/2A • b = h
1/2 (17.5)(5) = h
43.75 = h

The height of the triangle is 43.75 units.

Answer 1

it is wrong .

Jessica's mistake:

A = 1/2bh

1/2A • b = h >she should multiply the area with 2 not 1/2 and divide the area by b rather than multiply by b

1/2 (17.5)(5) = h

43.75 = h

correct answer:

A = 1/2bh

2A/b=h

h=2(17.5)/5

h=7

Answer 2

h = 7 units

Explanation:

Jessica made an error with the
`(1)/(2)` in that she multiplied A by it instead of dividing.

Given

A =
`(1)/(2)` bh

with A = 17.5 and b = 5, then

17.5 =
`(1)/(2)` × h × 5 ( multiply both sides by 2 to clear the fraction )

35 = 5h ( divide both sides by 5 )

h = 7