SOLUTION: A pole's shadow measures 2 1/2 feet when the shadow of a yardstick is right next to the ople measures 16 inches. How tall is the pole?

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Question 353964: A pole's shadow measures 2 1/2 feet when the shadow of a yardstick is right next to the ople measures 16 inches. How tall is the pole?
Found 3 solutions by rfer, walleye, checkley77:
Answer by rfer(16322)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
x/2 1/2=3/1 1/3
1 1/3x=3/1*5/2
4/3x=15/2
x=15/2*3/4
x=45/8
x=5 5/8 ft

Answer by walleye(1)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
First you must convert the shadow into inches. 2.5 * 12 = 30 inches.

Second you must know that a yardstick is 3 ft or 36 inches.

Set x as the height of the pole.

Now use the law of similar triangles
as in

simplify into

Now cross multiply

Answer by checkley77(12844)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
x/2.5=36/16 cross multiply.
16x=2.5*36
16x=90
x=90/16
x=5.625 feet is the height of the pole.