Question

a shadow 24 feet long is cast by a maypole that is 45 feet tall. if a nearby cherry tree is 30 feet tall, then how long will the cherry trees shadow be? 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 cherry tree's shadow. Since the ratio of height to shadow length is the same for both objects, we have \(\frac{45}{24}=\frac{30}{x}\).

Step2: Cross - multiply

Cross - multiplying gives \(45x = 24\times30\).

Step3: Solve for \(x\)

First, calculate \(24\times30 = 720\). Then \(x=\frac{720}{45}\).

Step4: Simplify

\(x = 16\).

Answer:

16