The height of a rectangle is 5 feet shorter than the base. The area of the rectangle is 104 square feet. Find the base of the rectangle.

Answer 1

length of base = x feet

height = 5 feet shorter than base = x -5 feet

area = length * width

104 = x * (x-5)

104 = x^2 - 5x

x^2 - 5x-104 = 0

(x-13)(x+8) = 0

x = 13 or -8

can only be 13 (positive)

length of base = 13

height = length of base - 5 = 8