Problema Solution

a triangle has base 12 centimeters and height 8 centimeters. how much do you have to increase each dimension equally so that the area is tripled?

Answer provided by our tutors

I presume 8 is the height

area = 1/2 * 12 * 8

area = 48 cm^2

thrice = 48*3=144 cm^2

increase both by x

area after increase = 1/2 * (12+x)(8+x)

area = 1/2 * ( 96+12x+8x+x^2) by FOIL

area = 1/2 * (x^2+20x+96)

144= 1/2 ( (x^2+20x+96)

288=x^2+20x+196

x^2+20x-192=0

Find the roots of the equation by quadratic formula

a= 1 b= 20 c= -192

b^2-4ac= 400 + 768

b^2-4ac= 1168

= 34.18



x1=( -20 + 34.18 )/ 2

x1= 7.09

x2=( -20 -34.18 ) / 2

x2= -27.09

Ignore negative value

increase by 7.09 cm