The base of a triangle is 3cm grater than the height. The area is 14cm^2. Find the height and length of the base. Please show how you dervied at your answer.

Answer 1

h = x-cm
b = (x + 3) cm
A = 14 cm^2

A = h * b / 2,
x(x + 3) / 2 = 14cm^2
Multiply both sides by 2:,
x(x + 3) = 28,
x^2 + 3x = 28,
x^2 + 3x - 28 = 0,
Factor the trinomial:
(x - 4) (x + 7) = 0,
x + 7 = 0, x = - 7;
x - 4 = 0 , x = 4 cm = h,
x + 3 = 4 + 3 = 7 cm = b

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