Area of a Triangle Word Problem

[afritts1987]

The height of a triangle is 8 inches less than its base. The area of the triangle is 192 square inches. The height of the triangle is______ inches and the base of the triangle is ________ inches?

Now for the equation I got ....

192= 1/2b(b-8). Although from here on out somehow I am having trouble executing the equation. I believe the next thing I do is distrubute the b to b-8.

192=1/2b^2-8b. But from here on out I'm confused as what to do.

[stapel]

The height of a triangle is 8 inches less than its base. The area of the triangle is 192 square inches. The height of the triangle is______ inches and the base of the triangle is ________ inches?
The lack of grouping symbols and definitions is a bit confusing; I think you mean that your work was as follows:

. . . . .length of base: b

. . . . .length of height: b - 8

. . . . .area formula: A = (1/2)bh

. . . . .192 = (1/2)(b)(b - 8)

. . . . .192 = (1/2)(b[sup:10pad069]2[/sup:10pad069] - 8b)

If so, now multiply through by 2 to clear the one denominator, and solve the quadratic equation by whatever method you prefer. :D

Eliz.