document.write( "Question 106195: Standing next to each other, a woman casts a 46.9 inch shadow and her 50 inch tall daughter casts a 35 inch shadow. What is the height of the woman to the nearest inch?\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I tried forming a ratio between the woman and the daughter\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x:46.9= 50: 35\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "is this the right way to do it? if not, how can I proceed with the question?
\n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #77242 by bucky(2189)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
That is the way to do the problem. You set up the proportion as:
\n" ); document.write( ".
\n" ); document.write( "Actual height of woman is to woman's shadow as actual height of daughter is to daughter's
\n" ); document.write( "shadow.
\n" ); document.write( ".
\n" ); document.write( "Since the actual height of the woman is unknown you let x be that height. Then your proportion
\n" ); document.write( "became:
\n" ); document.write( ".
\n" ); document.write( "\"x%2F46.9+=+50%2F35\"
\n" ); document.write( ".
\n" ); document.write( "You can solve this by cross multiplying. Multiply the numerator of the first ratio (x) by the
\n" ); document.write( "denominator of the second ratio (35). Set it equal to the product you get when you multiply
\n" ); document.write( "the denominator of the first ratio (46.9) times the numerator of the second ratio (50).
\n" ); document.write( ".
\n" ); document.write( "Can you see why this is called cross multiplying? It is because if you draw lines that
\n" ); document.write( "connect the numbers you are multiplying, it forms a cross that is centered on the equal sign.
\n" ); document.write( ".
\n" ); document.write( "Anyway, when you cross multiply you get:
\n" ); document.write( ".
\n" ); document.write( "35x = (46.9)*(50)
\n" ); document.write( ".
\n" ); document.write( "The right side multiplies out to 2345. So the equation is reduces to:
\n" ); document.write( ".
\n" ); document.write( "35x = 2345
\n" ); document.write( ".
\n" ); document.write( "Solve for x by dividing both sides by 35. Your answer when you do that division is the height
\n" ); document.write( "of the woman in inches. So don't forget to label your answer \"inches\".
\n" ); document.write( ".
\n" ); document.write( "Hope this helps you and shows you how you can solve proportions (two ratios that are equal)
\n" ); document.write( "by cross multiplying. When you use cross multiplying it will work regardless of which
\n" ); document.write( "numerator or denominator is the unknown x.
\n" ); document.write( ".
\n" ); document.write( "Keep up the good work.
\n" ); document.write( ".
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" );