Answer:
The height of the triangle is four meters.
Step-by-step explanation:
We are given that the area of a triangle is 12 square meters. The base is two meters longer than the height, and we want to determine the height of the triangle.
Recall that the area of a triangle is given by:
[tex]\displaystyle A = \frac{1}{2}bh[/tex]
Since the area is 12 square meters:
[tex]\displaystyle 12 = \frac{1}{2}bh[/tex]
The base is two meters longer than the height. In other words, we can write that:
[tex]b = h + 2[/tex]
Substitute:
[tex]\displaystyle 12=\frac{1}{2}(h+2)h[/tex]
Solve for h. Multiply both sides by two:
[tex]24 = (h+2)h[/tex]
Distribute:
[tex]h^2+2h=24[/tex]
Isolate:
[tex]h^2+2h-24=0[/tex]
Factor:
[tex](h+6)(h-4)=0[/tex]
Zero Product Property:
[tex]h + 6 = 0\text{ or } h -4 =0[/tex]
Solve for each case:
[tex]h = -6\text{ or } h = 4[/tex]
Since the height cannot be negative, we can ignore the first solution.
Thus, the height of the triangle is four meters.
