Question

a lookout tower is 30 feet tall and its shadow is 16 feet long. a nearby observation tower is 60 feet tall. how long is the observation tower’s shadow? write your answer as a whole number or a decimal. do not round. feet

Explanation:

Step1: Set up proportion

Let \( x \) be the shadow length of the observation tower. The ratio of height to shadow length should be equal for both towers. So, \(\frac{30}{16}=\frac{60}{x}\).

Step2: Solve for \( x \)

Cross - multiply: \( 30x = 60\times16 \). Then \( 30x=960 \). Divide both sides by 30: \( x=\frac{960}{30}=32 \).

Answer:

32