The maximum length of the sperm whale is approximately 32.31 feet
We know that the white shark's length (21 feet) is 35% of the sperm whale's maximum length.
Setting up proportion:
White shark length / Sperm whale length = 35%
Converting the percentage to a decimal:
35% = 35/100 = 0.35
Now we can plug the values into the proportion:
21 feet / Sperm whale length = 0.35
By cross-multiplying:
21 feet * Sperm whale length = 0.35 * Sperm whale length
Simplifying by combining like terms:
21 feet = 0.65 * Sperm whale length
Finally, divide both sides by 0.65 to isolate the sperm whale's length:
Sperm whale length = 21 feet / 0.65 ≈ 32.31 feet
Therefore, the maximum length of the sperm whale is approximately 32.31 feet