Question

A tree casts a shadow that is 24 ft in length. A 3 foot stick casts a shadow that is 2 ft in length. What is the height of the tree?

Answer 1

36 ft

Explanation:

Looking at the shadow of the stick, it is 2/3 as long the length of the stick.

We know the shadow is 24 feet, so 24 is 2/3 of x (the length of the tree)

Multiply 24 by 3/2 (the reciprocal of 2/3) to get x.

24/1 * 3/2

Cross-cancellation

12/1 * 3/1

12 * 3

36 ft

The height of the tree is 36 feet.