Question

a monument is 24 meters tall. close by, there is an oak tree that is 16 meters tall. if the monuments shadow is 45 meters long, how long is the oak trees shadow? write your answer as a whole number or a decimal. do not round. meters

Explanation:

Step1: Set up proportion

Let \( x \) be the length of the oak tree's shadow. The ratio of height to shadow length should be equal for both the monument and the oak tree. So we have the proportion: \(\frac{24}{45}=\frac{16}{x}\)

Step2: Cross - multiply and solve for \( x \)

Cross - multiplying gives \( 24x = 16\times45 \). First, calculate \( 16\times45=720 \). Then, solve for \( x \) by dividing both sides of the equation by 24: \( x=\frac{720}{24} \)

Step3: Simplify the fraction

\(\frac{720}{24} = 30\)

Answer:

30