Question

The height of a trapazoid can be expressed as (x-4) while the bases can be expressed as (x+4) and (x-9). If the area of the trapazoid is 99 cm squared, what is the length of the larger base

Answer 1

9514 1404 393

Answer:

  ≈ 17.228101 cm

Step-by-step explanation:

The area of a trapezoid is given by the formula ...

  A = (1/2)(b1 +b2)h

Filling in the given information, we have ...

  99 = (1/2)((x+4) +(x-9))(x -4) = (1/2)(2x -5)(x -4)

  198 = 2x^2 -13x +20

  2(x -3.25)^2 = 199.125

  x = 3.25 +√99.5625 ≈ 13.228101

Then the length of the larger base is ...

  x+4 = 17.228101 . . . cm