To find the length of the base of the triangle, we can use the formula for the area of a triangle:

$\text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times \text{base} \times \text{height}$

We are given the area of the triangle (26 square inches) and the height (6.5 inches). Let $b$ represent the length of the base.

Now, substitute the known values into the formula:

$26 = \frac{1}{2} \times b \times 6.5$

To solve for $b$, first multiply both sides of the equation by 2 to eliminate the fraction:

$52 = b \times 6.5$

Now, divide both sides by 6.5 to isolate $b$:

$b = \frac{52}{6.5}$

$b = 8$

So, the length of the base of the triangle is 8 inches.

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Would you like further details on the solution or have any questions about the process?

Here are some related questions:

1. How do you calculate the area of a triangle if the height is given?
2. What happens if the height is doubled in this scenario?
3. How can you rearrange the area formula to solve for height instead of base?
4. How would the area change if the base of the triangle were 10 inches instead of 8?
5. What are other ways to find the area of a triangle given different information?

Tip: Always remember to rearrange the formula before solving for the unknown, ensuring you isolate the variable you're solving for.