Final answer:
To find the height of the Washington Monument, we can use the concept of similar triangles and set up a proportion based on the given measurements. By cross-multiplying, we deduce that the Washington Monument is approximately 169.2 meters tall.
Step-by-step explanation:
The problem presented is a classic example of using similar triangles to determine the height of the Washington Monument. Since the 1.8m tall person and the Washington Monument cast shadows at the same time, we can assume that the sunlight angles are the same for both, creating similar triangles. To find the height of the monument, we can set up a proportion:
Person's height / Person's shadow = Monument's height / Monument's shadow
1.8m / 0.7m = Monument's height / 65.8m
By cross-multiplying, we find:
(1.8m * 65.8m) / 0.7m = Monument's height
118.44m / 0.7m = Monument's height
Therefore, the height of the Washington Monument is approximately 169.2 meters.