SOLUTION: martin plays tennis at night under floodlights. When he stands 4.5m from the base of a floodlight, he casts a shadow 1.4m long. If martin is 1.7m tall, how high is the floodlight?

Algebra ->  Triangles -> SOLUTION: martin plays tennis at night under floodlights. When he stands 4.5m from the base of a floodlight, he casts a shadow 1.4m long. If martin is 1.7m tall, how high is the floodlight?      Log On


   



Question 1037259: martin plays tennis at night under floodlights. When he stands 4.5m from the base of a floodlight, he casts a shadow 1.4m long. If martin is 1.7m tall, how high is the floodlight?
Answer by Cromlix(4381) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Hi there,
Question involves similar
triangles.
Unknown = Height of floodlight = 'x'
Distance from base of floodlight
to end of Martin's shadow = 4.5 + 1.4
= 5.9
Martin's height = 1.7
Length of Martin's shadow = 1.4
x/5.9 = 1.7/1.4
Cross multiply.
x = (1.7 * 5.9)/1.4 (* = times)
x = 7.16 m (2 decimal places)
This is the height of the floodlight.
Hope this helps :-)