SOLUTION: A man is walking away from a lamppost with a light source h = 8 m above the ground. The man is m = 2 m tall. How long is the man's shadow when he is d = 15 m from the lamppost?

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Question 902470: A man is walking away from a lamppost with a light source h = 8 m above the ground. The man is m = 2 m tall. How long is the man's shadow when he is d = 15 m from the lamppost?
Answer by josgarithmetic(39616) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
This is similar triangles but can be understood to use equal slopes. The shadow is on the ground.

One of the triangles has leg h-m=8-2=6 and other leg d=15; and is a RIGHT triangle.

The other triangle has the shadow corresponding to the length d, and the man's height 2 corresponding to the 6.
s%2F15=6%2F2
s%2F15=3
highlight%28s=45%29