Question

A surveyor is calculating the width of a canyon. He has taken the measurements shown below. What is the width of the canyon? Type a numerical answer in the box below.

Answer 1

480 ft

Explanation:

To find the width (x), apply the similarity theorem of two similar triangles, which says that the corresponding lengths of two similar triangles are proportional.

Thus:

x/72 = 80/12

Cross multiply

12 × x = 80 × 72

12x = 5,760

12x/12 = 5,760/12

x = 480

Width of the canyon = x = 480 ft