Question

Very confused on how to approach??? pls helpppp

Answer 1

Answer:

The height of the wall is 52.2 feet.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given:

From the figure shown, HT is the height of Carlos, 'V' is the position of mirror.

So, TV = 4 ft, VS = 36 ft, HT = 5.8 ft.

Let the height of the wall be 'x'. So, JS = 'x'

Now, consider the two triangles HTV and JVS

Statements                                                               Reasons

1. ∠ HTV ≅ ∠ JSV                                           Right angles are congruent

2. ∠ HVT ≅ ∠ JVS                                          Given in the figure

Therefore, ΔHTV and Δ JVS are similar triangles by AA postulate.

Now, from definition of similar triangles, corresponding sides of two similar triangles are in proportion to each other. Therefore,

$\frac{HT}{JS}=\frac{TV}{VS}=\frac{HV}{JV}$

Considering the first two pair of fractions, we have:

$\frac{5.8}{x}=\frac{4}{36}\\\\36\times 5.8=4\times x\\\\x=\frac{36\times 5.8}{4}\\\\x=9\times 5.8=52.2\ ft$

Therefore, the height of the wall is 52.2 feet.