Similar Triangle Word Problems

Find the height of the tree.

• 8 ft
• 12 ft
• 13 ft
• 15 ft

To find the height of a very tall pine tree, you place a mirror on the ground and stand where you can see the top of the pine tree.  How tall is the tree?

• 144 feet
• 72 feet
• 36 feet

Use the information in the diagram to determine the height of the tree.

• 80 feet
• 320 feet
• 40 feet
• 160 feet

A power pole 10 m tall casts a shadow 8 meters long, at the same time that a building nearby casts a shadow 14 m long.  How tall is the building?

• 9 m
• 15.2 m
• 12 m
• 17.5 m

If two figures are similar their angles are______.

• proportional
• congruent
• supplementary
• complementary

If two figures are similar, the corresponding sides are ______________.

• equal
• congruent
• proportional
• none of these

You want to know the approximate height of your school building. You place a mirror on the ground and stand where you can see the top of the building in the mirror. How tall is your school? The mirror is 30 feet from the base of the school. You are 36 inches from the mirror and your eyes are 5 feet above the ground. Round your answer to the nearest whole number.  

• 50 ft
• 80 ft
• 42 ft
• 121 ft

You want to know the approximate height of a very tall pine tree. You place a mirror on the ground and stand where you can see the top of the tree in the mirror. How tall is the tree? The mirror is 24 feet from the base of the tree. You are 24 inches from the mirror and your eyes are 6 feet above the ground. Round your answer to the nearest tenth.

• 84 ft
• 97 ft
• 72 ft
• 24 ft

To find the distance d across a lake, you locate the points as shown. Find the value of d. Round your answer to the nearest tenth.  

• 109 ft
• 90 ft
• 83 ft
• 45 ft

You want to know the approximate height of your house. You place a mirror on the ground and stand where you can see the top of your house in the mirror. How tall is your house? The mirror is 25 feet from the base of your house. You are 60 inches from the mirror and your eyes are 5 feet 6 inches above the ground. Round your answer to the nearest tenth.

• 27.5 ft
• 36.2 ft
• 19.4 ft
• 50.2 ft