is the following math problem impossible?

Question

the question is this:

the light from a 22-foot street lamp creates a shadow in front of a 5 and a half foot tall person standing 4 feet from the lamppost. how long is the person's shadow?

i believe the answer is impossible since
1) lights dont cast shadows
2) it does not state where in front of the person it ends
3) what if the person is wearing heels and isnt 5 and a half feet any more????

seriously.

am i right or what???

btw im in geometry so yea. pleeeeeeeeeez help

also who is to say this person is facing the lamp or back towards it?

maybe they're sideways

Answer 1

This question is easy.

Draw the lamp post and draw the person. Draw a line from the light to the top of the person's head to the ground. The length of the person's shadow is the unknown. Call that X. Now, you've got two triangles: 5' 6" by X, and 22' by (4' + X). We know that those two ratios must be identical. Solve for X.

Answer 2

i don't think it is impossible..

first, is says that the light from the street lamp creates a shadow... of course! light creates shadows... there wouldnt be a shadow if there is no light... moreover it didnot say that the lamp castthe shadow.

second, it isnt stated whether the man is facing the post.. or what.. therefore, it could also mean that the street lamp is behind the man and that the man is facing in other way where the shadow is casted. (there is a possibility so it cannot be impossible anymore.)

third, the given height is all that it is..

good luck on solving your math problem! hope this helps.

Answer 3

it's just a simple math problem...nothing impossible about it.
just use your similar triangle equations.

draw the 22' lamp post 4' from the 5' 6" person and 4+X from the tip of the person's shadow (that creates your triangle). to solve for length of the person's shadow which is X, use similar triangle principles

(22' - 5' 6") / 4' = (5' 6") / X

that would be your working equation.

X = 1.333333'

Answer 4

You're a creative person, like me! Take this very literally. Use the pathegorem theorum (sorry, butchered spelling!) of
A^2 + B^2 = C^2. Draw a picture to figure out what info goes where. You're basically making a triangle w/the lampost being one leg, the distance another, and the height of the person the third. Make a box in the right angle corner, which will point to the "C" or hypotonuse.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Pail A in step 3 has 6 litres added to the original total to have 18 there. So, pail A had 12 in it before the 6 was added in step 3, but 16 when it started (b/c 3/4 of 16 leaves 12 in the pail after step 1). Step 2 takes 1/4 of pail A's total out, leaving 18. That means that it has 24 in it (3/4 of 24=18)...but you have to remember that you also added 4 from pail A. So, pail B started out with 20 litres. Finally, pail C is left with 18...But if it gives 1/4 of its water to pail a, it must have had 24 in it after step 2. 24-6 from pail B = 18 pail a=16 (12 left after 1, then 6 added in 6 to =18) pail b=20 (4 added from 1, then 6 subtracted to =18) pailc=18 (6 added from 2, then 6 subtracted and added to the 12 in a to =18) Am I making any sense?

Answer 6

Can't help you fully, but if the person is blocking some of the light, then YES there will be a shadow. Just take the problem as it is written - no assuming. Forget your #3 question.

Answer 7

hon, the problem is worded wrong unless this is some sort of extra credit question.
your answer is 1 1/2 ft.

Answer 8

and this is when you ask too many questions. Take the advice from the very intelligent respondents.

Answer 9

Give tony1athome the Best Answer reward. He nailed it.

Answer 10

no it's nOt inpisbble becouse everything has a shodow duu dum question