Question

A building casts a 17-foot shadow. A 6-foot man standing next to the building casts a 2.5-foot shadow. What is the height, in feet, of the building?

Answer 1

So the way you would find it is a ratio. 

1. $\frac{6}{2.5} \frac{x}{17}$
2. =(6)(17)/(2.5)
3. =102/2.5
4. =40.8

So the building would be 40.8 feet tall.