Question

The headlights on a car are set so the light beam drops 2 in. For each 25 ft measured horizontally. If the headlights are mounted 30 in. above the ground, how far ahead of the car will they hit the ground?

Answer 1

Two similar right angle triangles are formed. We would compare the ratio of the corresponding sides of the traingles.

The triangles are shown below

Let x represent the

Thus, we have how far ahead of the car will they hit the ground. Thus, we have

2/30 = 25/x

By crossmultiplying, we have

2 * x = 25 * 30

2x = 750

x = 750/2

x = 375 ft

Thus, it will hit the ground 375 ft ahead of the car