Problema Solution

Mitchell cast a shadow 0.5 ft long while a flagpole cast a shadow 2.5 ft long. If Mitchell is 5 ft 3 in. tall, how tall is the flagpole?

Answer provided by our tutors

let


h = the height of the flagpole


1 ft = 12 in


1 in = 1/12 ft


Mitchell is 5 ft 3 in. tall means he is 5 + 3(1/12) = 5 + (1/4) = 5.25 ft tall


since the length of the shadow is directly proportional to the height of the object we have:


5.25 : 0.5 = h : 2.5


by solving we find:


h = 26.25 ft


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0.25 ft = 0.25*12 in = 3 in


26.25 ft = 26 ft 3 in


the flagpole is 26 ft 3 in tall.