Question

a wooden cane is 3 feet tall. its shadow is 4 feet long. close by, there is a maple tree that is 9 feet tall. how long is the maple trees shadow? write your answer as a whole number or a decimal. do not round. feet

Explanation:

Step1: Set up proportion

Let \(x\) be the length of the maple tree's shadow. Since the ratio of height to shadow length is the same for both objects, we have \(\frac{3}{4}=\frac{9}{x}\).

Step2: Cross - multiply

Cross - multiplying gives \(3x = 4\times9\).

Step3: Solve for \(x\)

\(3x=36\), then \(x=\frac{36}{3}\).

Answer:

12