SOLUTION: If a tree casts a shadow 12 feet long and at the same time a person who is 5 feet 10 inches tall casts a shadow of 5 feet, then the height of the tree is?

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Question 1188704: If a tree casts a shadow 12 feet long and at the same time a person who is 5 feet 10 inches tall casts a shadow of 5 feet, then the height of the tree is?
Found 2 solutions by ikleyn, Shin123:
Answer by ikleyn(52810)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
If a tree casts a shadow 12 feet long and at the same time a person who is 5 feet 10 inches tall casts
a shadow of 5 feet, then the height of the tree is?
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This exercise is for those amateurs who love convert inches to feet and vise versa. 

5 feet 10 inches = 5*12 + 10 inches = 60 + 10 inches = 70 inches.


To solve the problem, write a proportion


     =  = .


From the proportion, find  x = =  = 2*7 = 14 feet.    ANSWER

Solved.



Answer by Shin123(626)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The ratio from an object's height to its shadow is constant regardless of the object. Therefore, we have that , where x is the height of the tree. Multiplying both sides by 12, we get feet.
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