SOLUTION: Debra wants to measure the height of a tree. She sights the top of the tree, using a mirror that is lying flat on the ground. The mirror is 33ft from the tree, and Debra is standin

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Question 1141254: Debra wants to measure the height of a tree. She sights the top of the tree, using a mirror that is lying flat on the ground. The mirror is 33ft from the tree, and Debra is standing 9.7ft from the mirror, as shown in the figure. Her eyes are 6ft above the ground. How tall is the tree? Round your answer to the nearest foot. (The figure is not drawn to scale.)
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
If Debra, mirror, and bottom of tree are points on the ground all on one line, then the two right triangle are these: LEFT: y and 33 as the legs and unknown hypotenuse. RIGHT: 6 and 9.7 as legs and unknown hypotenuse. The two angles at the mirror are of same measure; that is, the 33 and the hypotenuse of LEFT triangle makes same angle measure as the 9.7 and the hypotenuse of the RIGHT triangle.

Note, these are two SIMILAR triangles.
highlight_green%28y%2F33=6%2F9.7%29

highlight%28y=20.4%29