Question

John wants to find the width of a canyon. He walks along the side for 75 ft and marks a point and then walks 16.5 ft and marks another point. Then he turns at a right angle away from the canyon and walks to a point that is in line with the first point marked and another point perpendicular across the canyon from the starting point.

A) Can he conclude the two triangles are similar? Why or why not?

B) if it was 24 ft that he walked for AB, can the canyon width be found? If so, find it and show all work.

Answer 1

A) Yes , the triangles are similar as indicated and shown from the analysis of the diagram.

B) Yes, the canyon width AE can be found and it is calculated and gotten as 109.09ft

Explanation:

Attached below is the step by step calculations and explanation of both answers.