In sunlight, a vertical stick has a height of 4 ft and casts a shadow 2 ft long at the same time that a nearby tree casts a shadow 18 ft long. How tall is the tree?

9 ft

4 ft

0.4 ft

36 ft

Question

Mathematics

Ryan Bates

Today, 01:52

In sunlight, a vertical stick has a height of 4 ft and casts a shadow 2 ft long at the same time that a nearby tree casts a shadow 18 ft long. How tall is the tree?

9 ft

4 ft

0.4 ft

36 ft

+2

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Moriah Newman · Answer 1

Remark

Make up a proportion that relates the tree and its properties to the stick and its properties.

Givens

Stick height (s_h) = 4

Stick shadow (s_s) = 2

Tree shadow = t_s = 18

Tree height = x

Formula

s_h / s_s = x / t_s

Substitute and solve.

4/2 = x / 18 Cross multiply

4*18 = 2 * x

72 = 2x Divide by 2

72/2 = x

x = 36

The height of the tree is 36 feet.

In sunlight, a vertical stick has a height of 4 ft and casts a shadow 2 ft long at the same time that a nearby tree casts a shadow 18 ft long. How tall is the tree?9 ft4 ft0.4 ft36 ft

In sunlight, a vertical stick has a height of 4 ft and casts a shadow 2 ft long at the same time that a nearby tree casts a shadow 18 ft long. How tall is the tree?

9 ft

4 ft

0.4 ft

36 ft