Question

A triangular garden has an area of 112 ft2. Its height is 2 ft more than its base. Find the measure of the base.

Answer 1

14 ft.

Explanation:

First, we will assign variables to each value. If height is h, and base is b, then

1/2bh = 112 and h=b+2.

We will use substitution in this system of equations. first, we will isolate the b in bh/2=112. To do this we will multiply both sides by 2 to isolate the variables, so bh=224. Then, to isolate just one variable, in this case, b, we will divide 224 by h, getting us b=224/h.

Then, we will substitute b for this value in h+2=b, leaving us with h+2=224/h

Then isolate the variable. h will equal either -14 or 16. Because this is a geometric shape, the value of its sides cannot be negative, so it has a height of 16.

Then, plug this into the second equation. If the height is 2 ft more than the base, then the base will be 14 ft.