Question

Shalonda notices that when she stands next to the flagpole, she casts a shadow that is 8 feet long and that the flagpole casts a shadow that is 28 feet long. Little Shalonda is 4 feet tall. How tall, to the nearest foot, is the flagpole? feet Type the correct answer, then press Enter.

Answer 1

The answer is 14 ft tall.

This can be solved using proportion:

Shalonda: 4ft Shadow: 8ft

Flagpole: x Shadow: 28

$\dfrac{4ft}{8ft}=\dfrac{x}{28ft}$

So we cross multiply and then divide to solve for X, or in other words, we transpose 28 ft to the other side of the equation to isolate x. Since it is division on one side, when you move it it will become multiplication.

$\dfrac{(4ft)(28ft)}{8ft}=x$

$\dfrac{112ft^{2}}{8ft}=x$

$14ft=x$

The flagpole is 14 ft tall.

Answer 2

I believe that the flagpole is 14 feet tall because Shalonda is 4 feet tall and her shadow is 8 feet long and the flagpole also is vertical like her body so the 28 foot shadow should be 1/2 of that or 14 feet and so it just seems to be using proportions to get the answer.