Question

A pole casts a 70-foot shadow. At the same time, a 3-foot mailbox near the pole casts a shadow 3 feet 6 inches. Find the height of the pole in feet.

Answer 1

60 ft because

This can be solved by setting up a proportion.

Answer 2

60 ft

Explanation:

This can be solved by setting up a proportion.

height of the pole/length of the pole's shadow = height of the mailbox/length of the mailbox's shadow

height of the pole = x

plugging in values

x/70 = 3/3.5 To solve, cross multiply

(3.5)(x) = (70)(3) Simplify

3.5x = 210 Divide both sides by 3.5

3.5x/3.5 = 210/3.5

x = 60 ft is the height of the pole