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20 votes
20 votes
How do I see this up to solve it? 35/6 = x/5? Or am I mix matching it?

How do I see this up to solve it? 35/6 = x/5? Or am I mix matching it?-example-1
User Sunil Aher
by
2.6k points

1 Answer

29 votes
29 votes

ANSWER

42 feet

Step-by-step explanation

Let's draw the triangles,

They are both right triangles. The angle in green is the same for both triangles because the shadow is being cast from the same light source. Therefore these two triangles are similar and thus, the ratio between corresponding sides is constant,


(x)/(6ft)=(35ft)/(5ft)

Solving for x,


x=6ft\cdot(35ft)/(5ft)=6ft\cdot7=42ft

The tree is 42 ft tall.

How do I see this up to solve it? 35/6 = x/5? Or am I mix matching it?-example-1
User Aebabis
by
3.1k points