Question 15
A vertical pole of length 6 m casts a shadow 4 m long on the ground and at the same time a tower casts a shadow 28 m long. Find the height of the tower.
We will use the concept of similar triangles to solve this problem.
Step 1 — Draw the diagram
Let's imagine the pole and the tower. They both stand straight up from the ground. The sun casts shadows for both. This forms two right-angled triangles. Let the pole be CD. Its height is 6 m. Its shadow is DF. Its length is 4 m. Let the tower be AB. Its height is . Its shadow is BE. Its length is 28 m.

Step 2 — Identify similar triangles
We have two triangles formed. One is for the pole. The other is for the tower. The pole and tower are vertical. So, . Also, . The sun's angle is the same. So, . These are angles of elevation of the sun. By AA similarity criterion, the triangles are similar. So, .
Step 3 — Set up the proportion
Corresponding sides of similar triangles are proportional. We can write a ratio of their heights. We can also write a ratio of their shadows.
Let be the height of the tower. We substitute the given values.
Step 4 — Calculate the height
Now we solve for . We multiply both sides by 6.
Answer
The height of the tower is 42 m.
More questions in Exercise 6.3
- State which pairs of triangles in Fig. 6.34 are similar. Write the similarity criterion used by you for answering the question and also write the pairs of similar triangles in the symbolic form :
- In Fig. 6.35, , and . Find , and .
- Diagonals AC and BD of a trapezium ABCD with intersect each other at the point O. Using a similarity criterion for two triangles, show that .
- In Fig. 6.36, and . Show that .
- S and T are points on sides PR and QR of such that . Show that .
- In Fig. 6.37, if , show that .
- In Fig. 6.38, altitudes AD and CE of intersect each other at the point P. Show that:
(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)
- E is a point on the side AD produced of a parallelogram ABCD and BE intersects CD at F. Show that .
- In Fig. 6.39, ABC and AMP are two right triangles, right angled at B and M respectively. Prove that:
(i) (ii)
- CD and GH are respectively the bisectors of and such that D and H lie on sides AB and FE of and respectively. If , show that:
(i) (ii) (iii)
In Fig. 6.40, E is a point on side CB produced of an isosceles triangle ABC with AB = AC. If AD BC and EF AC, prove that ABD ECF.
Sides AB and BC and median AD of a triangle ABC are respectively proportional to sides PQ and QR and median PM of PQR (see Fig. 6.41). Show that ABC PQR.
D is a point on the side BC of a triangle ABC such that ADC = BAC. Show that .
Sides AB and AC and median AD of a triangle ABC are respectively proportional to sides PQ and PR and median PM of another triangle PQR. Show that ABC PQR.
A vertical pole of length 6 m casts a shadow 4 m long on the ground and at the same time a tower casts a shadow 28 m long. Find the height of the tower.
If AD and PM are medians of triangles ABC and PQR, respectively where ABC PQR, prove that