The area of a triangle is 12 square inches. The base is 2 inches longer than the height. Find the length of the base and the height using quadratic formula.

Question

anonymous · Answer

A= 1/2 *h* b right?

anonymous · Answer

hm so.... 12 = h^2* 2h * 1/2 ? right?

anonymous · Answer

Hello, sorry nobody answered your question.
I'm just going to do the work and see if I end up with the same quadratic you did.

The height is two inches larger than the base. So height = base + 2 inches.
12 = (1/2)(height)(base)
12 = (1/2)(base+2)(base)
12 = (1/2)(base^2 + 2base)
0 = (1/2)(base^2) + (1)base - 12
0 = (1/2)(b^2) + b - 12

anonymous · Answer

From here, you'd use the quadratic equation to find both roots. If I can help you through the steps I went through, let me know.

dumbcow · Answer

this can also be done by factoring

1/2(b^2 +2b) = 12
b^2 + 2b = 24
b^2 +2b-24 = 0
(b+6)(b-4) = 0
b = -6, b = 4
ignore the neg answer
b=4 and b+2 = 6