Question

If the lighthouse care taker is 6 feet 3 inches tall, about how long is the shadow he casts at the same time?

Answer 1

First convert the height of the man to feet:

6 feet 3 inches = 6.25 feet ( 3 inches is 1/4 of a foot)

Now set up a ratio:

Light House would be height over shadow = 119/45

Man would be height over shadow, which we will call X for now, so 6.25/X

Set the ratios to equal:

119/45 = 6.25/x

To solve for X cross multiply:

119X = 45*6.25

119x = 281.25

Divide both sides by 119 to find x:

X = 281.25 / 119

X = 2.36

The mans shadow is 2.36 feet long.

The answer is A.