Question

A 15 metres high tower casts a shadow 24 metres long at a certain time and at the same time, a telephone pole casts a shadow 16 metres long. The height of the telephone pole is ______.

Answer 1

A 15 metres high tower casts a shadow 24 metres long at a certain time and at the same time, a telephone pole casts a shadow 16 metres long. The height of the telephone pole is 10 m.

Explanation:

At the same time the sun’s rays make the same angle of elevation, so the tower and the pole form similar right triangles. Hence heights are proportional to shadow lengths: `15/24 = h/16`. Solving gives `h = 15 xx 16/24 = 10` m.