Question

miguel is 5ft 10 inches tall On a sunny day he casts a shadow of 4ft 2 inches long. At the same time, a nearby electric tower casts a shadow 8ft 9 inches long. How tall is the tower?

Please help me set up the equation. Do i use is actual height or his shadow?

Answer 1

use a simple ratio

height of man /shadow of man = height of tower/shadow of tower.

notice I set up "like things" in the same pattern

(5 10/12) / (4 2/12) = height of tower/(8 9/12)

(35/6) / (25/6) = tower/(35/4)
tower = (35/4)(35/6) / (25/6)
= 49/4 inches or 12 ft 3 inches

Answer 2

I am totally confused by the way you did this. It totally lost me.

Can you please tell me in a different way?

Where did you get the 12 from in your fractions?

Answer 3

How many inches are in one foot?