Question

The tree in your friend's yard casts a shadow that is 27 feet long. Your friend is 5 feet tall and casts a shadow that is 4.5 feet long. What is the height of the tree?

Answer 1

Set the equation up as a proportion, where x = the height of the tree in feet
27/x = 4.5/5
cross multiply
(4.5)(x) = (27)(5)
(4.5)(x) = 135
divide the entire equation by 4.5 to isolate x
135/4.5 = 30
x = 30
the tree is 30 ft tall