Answer:
The height of the wall is 52.2 feet.
Step-by-step explanation:
Given:
From the figure shown, HT is the height of Carlos, 'V' is the position of mirror.
So, TV = 4 ft, VS = 36 ft, HT = 5.8 ft.
Let the height of the wall be 'x'. So, JS = 'x'
Now, consider the two triangles HTV and JVS
Statements Reasons
1. ∠ HTV ≅ ∠ JSV Right angles are congruent
2. ∠ HVT ≅ ∠ JVS Given in the figure
Therefore, ΔHTV and Δ JVS are similar triangles by AA postulate.
Now, from definition of similar triangles, corresponding sides of two similar triangles are in proportion to each other. Therefore,
[tex]\frac{HT}{JS}=\frac{TV}{VS}=\frac{HV}{JV}[/tex]
Considering the first two pair of fractions, we have:
[tex]\frac{5.8}{x}=\frac{4}{36}\\\\36\times 5.8=4\times x\\\\x=\frac{36\times 5.8}{4}\\\\x=9\times 5.8=52.2\ ft[/tex]
Therefore, the height of the wall is 52.2 feet.
