Solve the problem.
-On a sunny day, a tree and its shadow form the sides of a right triangle. If the hypotenuse is 52 m long and the tree is 48 m tall, how long is the shadow?
A) 32 m
B)71 m
C)20m
D) 100 m

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Using the Pythagorean theorem, $a^2 + b^2 = c^2$, where $c$ is the hypotenuse (52 m), $a$ is the height of the tree (48 m), and $b$ is the length of the shadow. Solving for $b$, we get $b = \sqrt{c^2 - a^2} = \sqrt{52^2 - 48^2} = \sqrt{2704 - 2304} = \sqrt{400} = 20$ m.

Solve the Problem. -On a Sunny Day, a Tree and Its Shadow Form