The area of a triangle is 66 m^2, and its base is 1 m more than the height. (See the illustration in the link.) Find the base and height of the triangle.

www.webassign.net/ewenmath10/11-1-031-alt.gif

4 answers

areatriangle = (1/2) base x height
= (1/2)(x+1)(x)
= 66
(1/2)(x+1)(x) = 66
x(x+1) = 132
x^2 + x - 132 = 0
(x+12)(x-11) = 0
x = -12 or x = 11, but the sides can't be negative, so x = 11

state your conclusion
is the base is 11 and height is 10?
NO

x = 11, so what is x+1 ???

How could it be 11 and 10 ?
then the area would be (1/2)(10)(11) = 55, not 66
base would be 12 and height is 11
then the area would be (1/2)(12)(11) =66