Question

the height of a triangle is 3 feet greater than the base. the area of the triangle is 104 square feet. find the length of the base and the height of the triangle.

Answer 1

b=13, h=16

Explanation:

let the height be h, base be b.

h=b+3

b(b+3)/2=104

b^2+3b=208

b^2+3b-208=0

(b+16)(b-13)=0

b=13 and we leave the extraneous solution.

h=13+3=16

Answer 2

h = b + 3

(1/2)b(b + 3) = 104

b² + 3b = 208

b² + 3b - 208 = 0

(b - 13)(b + 16) = 0

b = 13 ft, h = 16 ft