Question

a shadow 15 feet long is cast by an oak tree that is 8 feet tall. what is the height of a nearby cherry tree that casts a shadow 30 feet long? write your answer as a whole number or a decimal. do not round. feet

Explanation:

Step1: Set up the proportion

Let \( h \) be the height of the cherry tree. Since the ratio of height to shadow length is the same for both trees, we have the proportion \(\frac{8}{15}=\frac{h}{30}\).

Step2: Solve for \( h \)

Cross - multiply: \(15h = 8\times30\). Then \(15h=240\). Divide both sides by 15: \(h=\frac{240}{15}\).

Answer:

16