A triangle has an area of 88 square inches. Find the length of the base if the base is 5 inches more than the height.

Answer 1

88 = bh/2

176 = bh

b= 5+h

h= b-5

176 = bh = (b)(b-5) = b^2 -5b

b^2 -5b -176 = 0

b = 5/2 + or - (1/2)sqr(25 +4(176)) = 5/2 + 27/2 = 32/2 = 16 inches = the base length

h=11

11(16)/2 = 88 square inches