Question

a triangle has an area of 35 square inches. The base of the triangle is 4 inches less than twice the height. What is the length of the base of the triangle?

Answer 1

I THINK ITS THIS :
(1/2) x (2h-4) x h = 35
(h-2)h = 35
h^2-2h-35 = 0
(h-7)(h+5) = 0
Positive solution:
height = 7 inches
base = 2h-4 = 2*7-4 = 10 inches

Answer 2

let the height be x
then base = 2x-4

(1/2)(x)(2x-4) = 35
x(2x-4) = 70
2x^2 - 4x - 70 = 0
x^2 - 2x - 35 = 0
(x-7)(x+5) = 0
x = 7 or x = a negative, which is silly

base = 2x-4 = 10