On a sunny day, a tree and its shadow form the sides of a right triangle. If the hypotenuse is $35 \mathrm{~m}$ long and the tree is $28 \mathrm{~m}$ tall, how long is the shadow?
A) $45 \mathrm{~m}$
B) $21 \mathrm{~m}$
C) $63 \mathrm{~m}$
D) $49 \mathrm{~m}$

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Using the Pythagorean theorem, $a^2 + b^2 = c^2$, where $c$ is the hypotenuse (35 m), $a$ is the height of the tree (28 m), and $b$ is the length of the shadow. Solving for $b$, we find $b = \sqrt{c^2 - a^2} = \sqrt{35^2 - 28^2} = 21 \mathrm{~m}$.

On a Sunny Day, a Tree and Its Shadow Form 35 m35 \mathrm{~m}35 m

On a Sunny Day, a Tree and Its Shadow Form $35 \mathrm{~m}$