Question

a flag stick on a golf course that is 6 1/2 feet tall casts a 9 3/4 foot shadow while a golfer nearby casts a 8 3/4 foot shadow. how tall is the golfer? a) 58 to impress everyone b) 59 to promote world peace c) 510 to show how cool math is d) 511 to win a bet e) 512 to end world hunger

Explanation:

Step1: Set up proportion

Since the ratio of height to shadow length is the same, let the golfer's height be \(x\). We have \(\frac{6.5}{9.75}=\frac{x}{8.75}\).

Step2: Cross - multiply

\(9.75x = 6.5\times8.75\).

Step3: Solve for \(x\)

\(x=\frac{6.5\times8.75}{9.75}\).
\(6.5\times8.75 = 56.875\), \(56.875\div9.75 = 5.875\) feet.
\(0.875\) feet \(=0.875\times12 = 10.5\) inches. So \(5.875\) feet is \(5\) feet \(10.5\) inches, which rounds to \(5\) feet \(11\) inches.

Answer:

D. \(5'11''\)