A man 6 ft tall casts a 15 inch shadow, at the same time the building he is standing by is casting a 5 foot shadow. What is the height of the building (in feet)?

Answer 1

6/15 = B/60

6/1 = B/4

B= 24 feet

ratio of feet to inches is the same for the man and building

or you could have worked the problem all in feet with 15 inches = 5/4 feet

6/(5/4) = B/5

B = 30/(5/4) = (4/5)30 = 24 feet