Problema Solution
The height of a triangular sail is 8 yards less than twice the length of its base. If the area of the sail is 60 square​ yards, find the dimensions of the sail.
Answer provided by our tutors
Let
x = the height of the sail
b = the length of the base
A = 60 yd^2 and also
A = (b*x)/2 the area of the triangle with base b and height x
Using the conditions from the text we can write the following system of equations:
x = 2*b - 8
(b*x)/2 = 60
By solving this system of equations we find
x = 12 yards
b = 10 yards
The sale is 12 yards high and has a 10 yards longs base.