Solve the problem.
-On a sunny day, a tree and its shadow form the sides of a right triangle. If the hypotenuse is 50 m long and the tree is 40 m tall, how long is the shadow?
A) 64 m
B) 90 m
C) 100 m
D) 30 m

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The length of the shadow can be found using the Pythagorean theorem, $a^2 + b^2 = c^2$, where $a$ and $b$ are the legs of the right triangle and $c$ is the hypotenuse. Here, the tree's height (40 m) and the hypotenuse (50 m) are known, so we solve for the shadow's length (b): $40^2 + b^2 = 50^2$. This simplifies to $1600 + b^2 = 2500$, and further to $b^2 = 900$, giving $b = 30$ m.

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