Question

The base of a triangle exceeds the height by 5 yards. If the area is 250 square yards, find the length of the base and the height of the triangle

Answer 1

height = 20 yards and base = 25 yards.

Explanation:

let the height = x yards.

base = (5 + x) yards.

area = 250 square yards

Area = 1/2 bh

250 = 1/2 × (x)(5+x)

250 × 2 = 5x + x2

500 = x2 + 5x

x2 + 5x - 500 = 0

factorizing:

(x + 25)(x - 20) = 0

x = -25 or 20

but length cannot be negative,

hence x = 20 yards.

height = 20 yards

base = (5 + 20) = 25 yards.