Math Application    How Tall Is the Flagpole?    Name
                                                      ---------------------


Objective:  Use proportions to solve for lengths of similar figures.


1)  Measure the flagpole shadow.  Start at the flagpole.
                                                         ------------------

2)  Hold your measuring stick by one end so that it touches the ground 
    vertically.  Mark the end of the shadow of the measuring stick, then 
    measure the length of the shadow.
                                      -------------------------------------


3)  Label the figures              ,()
    on the right with            ,' ||
    the measurements           ,'   ||
    you made.                ,'     ||
                           ,'       ||
                         ,'         ||
            Flagpole   ,'           || Height
                     ,'             ||   ?
                   ,'               ||                       ,||
                 ,'                 ||         Measuring   ,' ||
               ,'                   ||          Stick    ,'   ||  Height =
             ,'                     ||                 ,'     ||
           ,'                       ||               ,'       ||  ---------
         ,'_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _||             ,'_ _ _ _ _||

            Shadow =                           Shadow =
                     ---------------                    ---------------


4a) Set up the following proportion with the measurements you made:

     Height of flagpole = ?            Length of flagpole shadow =
--------------------------------- = ---------------------------------------
Length of measuring stick =         Length of measuring-stick shadow =


4b) Set up the following alternate proportion with the same measurements:

     Height of flagpole = ?            Length of measuring stick =
--------------------------------- = ---------------------------------------
Length of flagpole shadow =         Length of measuring-stick shadow =


5a) Calculate the height of the flagpole:
                                          ---------------------------------

5b) Show how you got your answer:






---------------------------------------------------------------------------
6)  Record in the table below all the measurements taken and the results of 
    the calculations:

       Length of            Length of             Length of      Height of
    Flagpole Shadow   Measuring-Stick Shadow   Measuring Stick   Flagpole
   .----------------.------------------------.-----------------.----------.
a) |                |                        |                 |          |
   |----------------|------------------------|-----------------|----------|
b) |                |                        |                 |          |
   |----------------|------------------------|-----------------|----------|
c) |                |                        |                 |          |
   |----------------|------------------------|-----------------|----------|
d) |                |                        |                 |          |
   |----------------|------------------------|-----------------|----------|
e) |                |                        |                 |          |
   |----------------|------------------------|-----------------|----------|
f) |                |                        |                 |          |
   |----------------|------------------------|-----------------|----------|
g) |                |                        |                 |          |
   |----------------|------------------------|-----------------|----------|
h) |                |                        |                 |          |
   `----------------'------------------------'-----------------'----------'

7a) Account for the differences in the measurements:
                                                    -----------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

7b) Do you think the angle of the sun (time of day, latitude) will affect 
    the result of your calculation?  Why or why not?
                                                     ----------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

8a) Which sets of measurements do you think are reliable enough to use?  
    Circle the letters (see table) of the measurements you want to keep:

                       a   b   c   d   e   f   g   h

8b) Why?
         ------------------------------------------------------------------

9a) Find the average of the calculated flagpole heights you decided to 
    keep:
          --------------------

9b) Show how you got your answer:






---------------------------------------------------------------------------

9c) What do you think is the actual height of the flagpole?
                                                            ---------------
9d) Why?
         ------------------------------------------------------------------