Question

Can someone explain how to do this Geometry problem?

Answer 1

Okay so it is easiest to solve this problem by drawing it out. First draw Eliot and label it 6ft. Then draw the 2 floodlights on either side of him equal distances away and label them both 12 yds high. Label the distance between the floodlights 50yards. Then draw 2 diagonal lines one coming down on each side from Eliot's head to the bottom of the lights. You now have a triangle with one side labeled 6ft, one side labeled 25yds (50/2), and label the other side x. Then make sure you change the units so they are the same. Then use the pythagorean theorem to solve.