Answer:
Base = x = 18ft
Height = x - 4 = 14ft
Step-by-step explanation:
The formula for the area of A the triangle is given by the following equation:
1) A = (base * heigth)/(2)
From this problem, we know that
base = x and that the height is 4ft less than the base, so height = base - 4 = x - 4.
We also know that the area is 126ft², so A = 126 ft². Now we can replace these informations in equation 1).
126 = (x(x-4))/2
x² - 4x = 252
x² -4x - 252 = 0
The roots of this equation are x = 18 or x = -14. But we know that a triangle cannot have negative dimensions, so we use x = 18.
The base is x, so base = 18ft.
Height is 4ft less than the base, so height equals 18-4 = 14ft