Question 870507
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The first platform is 8 feet 2 inches off the ground. The second platform is 7 feet 6 inches above the first platform. The shadow of the
first platform stretches 6 feet 3 inches across the ground.

1. Find the length of the shadow of the second platform in feet and inches to the nearest inch.
                  My answer is :   5 feet 9 inches

2.  A 5 foot 8 inch tall technician is standing on top of the second platform.  Find the length of the     
      shadow the scaffold and technician cast in feet and inches to the nearest inch.

I am having trouble answering number 2.  Can you please help me figure this answer out.  Thank you.... Kay
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I don't know what CONVOLUTED stuff that other "person" who responded came up with, but again, "his/her" answer for 1. is WRONG and is TOTAL
NONSENSE! As a matter of fact, "his/her" answer of 20' as the length of the 2nd platform's shadow is nowhere close to the correct answer, 5' 9". 

One should ask him/herself, "Isn't it TOTAL NONSENSE for a 7' 6" object to have a shadow of 20', under the same circumstances and at the
same time as an 8' 2" object with a shadow of 6' 3 inches"? Does this make any sense at all? One MAIN clue here is that the taller object's
shadow is shorter than its height, so the same goes for the shorter object! It's shadow will also be shorter than its height, not taller!

On the other hand, your answer 5' 9" is CORRECT. I presume you got that answer by calculating the following 
for L (Length of the 2nd platform's shadow): {{{(8&2/12)/(6&3/12) = (7&6/12)/L}}}
                                              {{{(8&1/6)/(6&1/4) = (7&1/2)/L}}}
                                               {{{(49/6)/(25/4) = (15/2)/L}}}
                                          {{{(49/6)(4/25) = (15/2)/L}}}
                                          {{{(49/3)(2/25) = (15/2)/L}}}
                                               {{{(98/75) = (15/2)/L}}}
                                              {{{L(98/75) = 15/2}}}
Length of the shadow of the second platform in feet and inches to the nearest inch, or
{{{L = (15/2)/(98/75) = (15/2)(75/98)}}} = 5.7397959 ft = 5 ft 8.877551 inches = 5 ft 9 inches, approximately.</pre>