A rectangle and a triangle have equal areas. The length of the rectangle is 12 inches, and its width is 8 inches. If the base of the triangle is 32 inches, what is the length, in inches, of the altitude drawn to the base?
Explanation
Area of rectangle = length x width \(=12 \times 8=96 \mathrm{ sq } . \mathrm{ in } .\)
Area of triangle = (1/2)base x altitude = (1/2)(32)(x) = 16x
16x = 96
x = 6 in.