Question 168975: The length of the shadow of a flagpole was found to be 72 feet. The shadow of a 3 foot picket in line which the flagpole was 4 feet. what is the length of the flagpole.
Found 2 solutions by josmiceli, Electrified_Levi:
Answer by josmiceli(19441)   (Show Source):
Answer by Electrified_Levi(103)  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Hi, Hope I can help,
.
The length of the shadow of a flagpole was found to be 72 feet. The shadow of a 3 foot picket in line with the flagpole was 4 feet. what is the length of the flagpole
.
This is fairly easy, to solve this we use a proportion
.
The ratio( or fraction) of the length of the flagpole to its shadow is equal to the ratio ( or fraction ) of the length of the picket to its shadow
.
The equation would be 
.
length of shadow of flagpole is 72 feet
.
length of flagpole is unknown( so we will call it "x" feet)
.
length of picket shadow is 4 feet
.
length of picket is 3 feet
.
Let us put the numbers in place of the words in the equation
.
= 
.
We can get rid of the "feet" in the equation
.
 , now we can solve for "x", we will use cross multiplication
.
=  = 
.
 , now let us multiply both sides
.
 , to find "x" we will divide each side by "4"
.
=  =  , you can check by replacing "x" with "54" in the equation
.
=  , you can go further by using cross multiplication
.
 = 
.
 =, multiplying both side, =  ( True )
.
"x" was the length of the flagpole, since "x" = 54, the flagpole is equal to 54 feet, don't forget to put the right unit, in this case it is feet
.
Flagpole = 54 feet
.
Hope I helped, Levi
|
|
|
