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Find the base b and height h of a triangle with an area of 48 square inches if the base is 4 more than the height. Please show work!

1 Answer

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Answer:

b = 12 ft; h = 8 ft

Explanation:

Area of Triangle:

A = base × height / 2

The base and height are both unknown.

Let the height = h

The base is 4 more than the height, so the base is h + 4.

A = base × height / 2

48 = (h + 4)(h)/2

96 = (h + 4)h

h² + 4h - 96 = 0

(h - 8)(h + 12) = 0

h - 8 = 0 or h + 12 = 0

h = 8 or h = -12

The height cannot be a negative number, so discard the solution h = -12.

h = 8

base = h + 4 = 8 + 4 = 12

Answer: b = 12 ft; h = 8 ft

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