document.write( "Question 20178: A flag pole 20 feet high casts a shadow of 5 feet. At the same time, a nearby building casts a 20-foot shadow. How many feet high is the building? ( the ground is level and both the building and the flagpole are perpendicular to the ground) \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #9730 by mmm4444bot(95) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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Hello There:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "This problem can be solved by using similar triangles. Each triangle is a right triangle.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The shadow of the flag pole is the base of the triangle, and its height is the other leg.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The shadow of the building is the base of the other triangle, and its height is unknown. Let's call the height \"x\".\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now we can write the equation relating the ratios of height to base to each other.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "20/5 = x/20\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Cross multiply to get rid of the fractions.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "400 = 5*x\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x = 80\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The building is 80 feet tall.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "~ Mark
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