What is the tail length of an alligator whose body length is 6.6 feet?

Question

An alligator's tail length T, varies directly as its body length,B. An alligator with a body length of 7.7 feet has a tail length of 5.6 feet. What is the tail length of an alligator whose body length is 6.6 feet?

Answer 1

Keenan,

 

You've decreased the body length from 7.7 to 6.6, thus a factor of 6.6/7.7=.857. Multiply the original tail length (5.6) by the change factor (.857) to get the new tail length: 4.8. Hope that helps!