Question

Each day at the same time, a shed that is 16 feet tall casts a shadow that is 12 feet long. What is the distance from the top of the shed to the end of the shadow it casts?

A) 4 feet
B) 8 feet
C) 12 feet
D) 20 feet

Answer 1

To find the distance from the top of the shed to the end of the shadow it casts, we can use similar triangles. The distance is 16 feet.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the distance from the top of the shed to the end of the shadow it casts, we can use similar triangles. The height of the shed would be the height of the corresponding side, and the length of the shadow would be the length of the corresponding side. Since the shed is 16 feet tall and casts a shadow that is 12 feet long, we can set up a proportion to find the length of the missing side:

16/12 = x/12

Cross-multiplying gives us:

12x = 192

Dividing both sides by 12, we get:

x = 16

Therefore, the distance from the top of the shed to the end of the shadow it casts is 16 feet.