Test Question for job test 12:45 Tomorrow

[mathless in MI]

:roll: A 6-foot tall man is standing near a tree on level ground. If the man's shadow is 4 feet long, how many feet tall is the tree.

 

[ChaoticLlama]

there is not enough information. It depends on how far away the man is from the tree.

 

[ChaoticLlama]

so then, it looks a bit like this:

B
*  *
*    *
*       *
*          *
*             *
*                *  E
*                    *
*                    *   *
*                    *       *
*                    *           *
*                    *               *
************************************** C
A                    D

where AB is the height of the tree, and DE is the height of the man.
Obviously Triangle ABC is similar to Triangle DEC, therefore, the ratio of the of corresponding side lengths are equal.

therefore, the following is true:

\(\displaystyle \frac{AB}{DE}=\frac{BC}{EC}=\frac{CA}{CD}\)

Keep in mind this is a RATIO. Become familiar with what a ratio is, learn it, love it.
Now, you know that The length of the shadow cast by the man is 4 ft, so CD = 4
You also now that The height of the man is six feet, so DE = 6
Lastly, you know that the length of the shadow projected from the tree is 18 ft, so AC = 18 (This is from the e-mail he sent me.)

Now plug those numbers into the ratio, and solve. Post back with your full work.