Question

A flagpole casts a shadow that is 15 feet and a 5 feet teenager casts a shadow that is 6 feet. How tall is the flagpole? Use a drawing to help solve the problem. Show work!

Answer 1

5/6=f/15

15•5=6•f

75=6•f

75/6=f

12.5=f

The flag pole is 12.5 ft tall

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Answer 2

The flagpole is 12.5 ft tall.

Explanation:

The ratio of object height to shadow length is ...

(teen height) : (teen shadow) = (5 ft) : (6 ft) = 5 : 6

so the height of an object is 5/6 the length of its shadow. Then the height of the flagpole is ...

(5/6) · (15 ft) = 12.5 ft

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A suitable scale drawing can show you the answer.