Question

A man 6ft tall is standing 8 feet away from a street light that is 215 ft high. How long is the man’s shadow?

Answer 1

`48/209 \ ft ~~ 2.8 \ i n`

Explanation:

By similar triangles relating:

`triangle ABE \ \` to `triangle DCE`

we have:

`AE : AB = DE : CD`

`:. (8+x) : 215 = x : 6`

`:. (8+x)/215 = x/6`

`:. 6(8+x) = 215x`

`:. 48 + 6x = 215x`

`:. 209x = 48`

`:. x = 48/209 \ ft ~~ 2.8 \ i n`