A six-foot tall person is standing next to a flagpole. The person is casting a shadow 1.5 feet in length, while the flagpole is casting a shadow 5 feet in length. How tall is the flagpole?

Question

*
1 point
30 feet
25 feet
20 feet
10 feet

Answer 1

Let's set up a proportion using the information given:

(height of person)/(length of person's shadow) = (height of flagpole)/(length of flagpole's shadow)

Using the values given, we have:

(6 feet)/(1.5 feet) = (height of flagpole)/(5 feet)

Cross-multiplying gives:

6 feet * 5 feet = (1.5 feet) * (height of flagpole)

30 feet = 1.5 feet * (height of flagpole)

Dividing both sides by 1.5 feet gives:

20 feet = height of flagpole

Therefore, the height of the flagpole is 20 feet.