The height of a triangle is 4 centimeters less than twice the length of its base. If the total area of the triangle is 48 square centimeters, then find the lengths of the base and height.

Answer 1

base ----- x cm
height ---- 2x-4 cm

area of triangle = (1/2) base x height

(1/2)(x)(2x-4) = 48
x(2x-4) = 96
2x^2 - 8x - 96 = 0
x^2 - 4x - 48 = 0
(x-8)(x+6) = 0
x = 8 or x = -6, the latter is inadmissable

base is 8 cm
height is 12 cm