Find the height of the triangle

The height of a triangle is 4 more than the base. If the area is 30cm² find the height.

---

Area of a triangle is (1/2)(base)(height)

x = length of the base
x + 4 = height {the height is 4 more than the base}

(1/2)(x)(x + 4) = 30 {substituted into area formula}
x(x + 4) = 60 {multiplied each side by 2, eliminating the fraction}
x² + 4x = 60 {used distributive property}
x² + 4x - 60 = 0 {subtracted 60 from each side}
(x + 10)(x - 6) = 0 {factored into two binomials}
x + 10 = 0 or x - 6 = 0 {set each factor equal to zero}
x = -10 or x = 6 {solved each equation for x}
x = 6 {length of base cannot be negative}
x + 4 = 10 {substituted 6, in for x, into x + 4}

height = 10 cm

Ask the House