Question

A flagpole is 20 feet tall. At 4 p.m. it casts a shadow that is 15 feet long. How far is it from the top of the flagpole to the end of the shadow?

Answer 1

9514 1404 393

Answer:

  25 feet

Step-by-step explanation:

The hypotenuse of the right triangle with legs 15 feet and 20 feet can be found using the Pythagorean theorem:

  h^2 = 20^2 +15^2

  h^2 = 400 +225 = 625

  h = √625 = 25

The distance from the shadow tip to the flag pole tip is 25 feet.