document.write( "Question 860831: at a certain time of day a tree that is x meters casts a shadow that is x-46 meters long if the distance from the top of the tree to the end of the shadow is x+4 meters long, what is the height, x, of the tree? ( I'm having a hard time figure what the formula is)? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #518694 by mananth(16946)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! Assuming the tree is vertical at right angles to the ground\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "then it is a right triangle\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The tree,ground and the line from top of tree to the end of shadow.\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(x+4)^2=x^2+(x-46)^2\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x^2+8x+16=x^2+x^2-92x+2116\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x^2-8x-92x-16+2116=0\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x^2-100x+2100=0\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x^2-70x-30x+2100=0\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x(x-70)-30(x-70)=0\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(x-70)(x-30)=0\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x=30 OR 70 \n" ); document.write( "shadow is x-46\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "so it cannot be 30\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "so x= 70\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |