Question

At a certain time during the day a tall tree casts a shadow of 32 feet. A shorter tree 12 feet tall casts a shadow of 16 feet. What is the height of the taller tree?

28 feet

24 feet

20 feet

16 feet

Answer 1

Since the sun is in the same spot, it creates similar triangles:

What is the ratio you will use?

Answer 2

32=12:16 ?

Answer 3

almost.
h:32=12:16.

Answer 4

oh.. haha I ment that. so then I multiply 32 by 12 then divide by 16?

Answer 5

H=24

Answer 6

The angle of the sun is the same for both, so the ratio of height to shadow-length is the same for both trees. Thus, if h is the height of the taller tree,
h/32 = 12/16
h = 32 (12/16) = 24 feet

Answer 7

yep.