Question

A maple tree casts a shadow of 45 ft long. At the same time, a 40-ft-long oak tree casts a shadow which is 60 ft long. Explain how you can use similar triangles to find the height of the tree. Then find the height of the tree.

Answer 1

Draw similar right triangles, one with sides of 40 and 60, and the other with sides of h and 45

Since the triangles are similar, the ratio of corresponding sides is constant.

h/40 = 45/60
h = 30

Answer 2

30/50