Question

Colbert's backyard has two trees, shown below. The height of shorter tree is 3/5 of the height of the taller tree. If the height of the shorter tree is 4 1/2 feet tall, what is the height, in feet, of the taller tree? ​

Answer 1

The height of the taller tree is 7.5 feet.

Explanation:

I am going to say that:

The height of the shorter tree is x.

The height of the taller tree is y.

The height of shorter tree is 3/5 of the height of the taller tree.

This means that
`x = (3y)/(5)`

If the height of the shorter tree is 4 1/2 feet tall, what is the height, in feet, of the taller tree? ​

This means that
`x = 4 + (1)/(2) = (8+1)/(2) = (9)/(2)`

We want to find y.

`x = (3y)/(5)`

`(9)/(2) = (3y)/(5)`

`6y = 45`

`y = (45)/(6)`

`y = 7.5`

The height of the taller tree is 7.5 feet.