Question

1. If the height h of a triangle is 3 inches less than the length of the base b, and the area A of the triangle is 19 times the length of the base, find b and h.

Answer 1

Base = b.
Here's a picture of the triangle:

Answer 2

Now, area = 1/2 * base * height

Answer 3

We don't know the base, but we know the height and the area in terms of the base.
Does that make sense so far?

Answer 4

mhmm...

Answer 5

h = b - 3

The area of a triangle is (1/2)bh.

This triangle has area 19b.

So, 19b = (1/2) * b * (b - 3)

Crank out the algebra.

Post what you get. I think we will then need to solve a quadratic equation to solve for b.

Answer 6

length of height (h) = base (b) -3
Area of triangle = 19 * b

Area of ANY triangle = .5 * h * b

Answer 7

hmmmm seems Directrix was a bit quicker than I was

Answer 8

I got \[19b= \frac{ 1 }{ 2 }*b^{2}-3b\]

Answer 9

19b = .5 * b * (b - 3)
19b = .5b² -3b
seems jellyfishe has this too

Answer 10

19b = .5b² -3b
.5b² -22b = 0

b= --22 +- sqrt(484 - 4 * .5 * 0)/2 * .5
b= 22 +- sqrt(484) /1
b= 22 + 22 = 44

Answer 11

so h = 41

Answer 12

I have the answers ( h=38 b=41), but I can't figure out how to get them...

Answer 13

Darn - Are you sure those are the answers jellyfishe ?

Answer 14

my textbook has the answers for that #

Answer 15

sheesh I'll recheck my work then

Answer 16

I think I got it...

Answer 17

19b = .5b² -3b
Okay I messed up here
I should have divided 3b by 2 so:
19b = .5b² -1.5b

.5b² -20.5b = 0
b = 41
and h = 38

Answer 18

\[19b=\frac{ 1 }{ 2 }b*(b-3)\]

If you divide the 19b by .5b (of course you have to do this to both side of the equal sign) then you get 38 because the b's cancel each other out... this make the equation:

\[38=b-3\]

You add three to both sides and get 41=b. :)

Answer 19

Yes I discovered that error too
it should have been -1.5b instead of -3b

Answer 20

I miss Algebra 2...

Answer 21

Then what is the course you are taking?

Answer 22

Geometry

Answer 23

I like geometry - didn't like Algebra 2 that much (thought it was boring)

Answer 24

I'm totally opposite. The only thing I didn't like was graphing.

Answer 25

To me, what sums up Algebra 2 was students went to the blackboard to show some answers. One kid had prblem #10 - a three unknown problem that was really involved.
Truck X arrives and drops off 1/2 its load - truck Y drops off 44 pounds more than truck X
dropped off......
I remember the kid put the answer for problem 10 as
10
then X
ten (written)
5+5
I think that summed up EVERYONE'S feelings

Answer 26

Our teacher had us do a lot of hand outs so we didn't really have to do that lol

Answer 27

that incident happened DECADES ago and I still find it hilarious

Answer 28

i would too ha!

Answer 29

I was laughing as I typed it LOL

Answer 30

gotta go - nice chatting with you :-)

Answer 31

same. Thanks for the help!! ;)