Question

A fence post that is 5 feet tall casts a 2-foot shadow at the same time that a tree that is 27 feet tall casts a shadow in the same direction. Determine the length of the tree's shadow.

8.5 feet
10.8 feet
12 feet
21.4 feet

Answer 1

I believe the answer is 10.8 feet

Answer 2

Let s be the height of the tree's shadow.

We set up and solve this proportion:

5/2 = 27/s

5s = 54

s = 10.8 feet

The length of the tree's shadow is 10.8 feet.