Seagull Shadow

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Exhausted by the heavy dose of critical analysis, the Swarthmore instructors collapsed on the beach. Looking skyward, a new problem flew into view.

"Look," exclaimed one instructor. "There's a seagull flying at an altitude of 100 feet. It casts a 3 foot-long shadow."

"And there's a seaplane flying at 1,000 feet. Its shadow is 30 feet long," added the instructor's husband.

"Okay, so what would each have to fly at in order to cast shadows of identical length?" posed the annoying calculus teacher (who was never really invited on the vacation - but invited himself).

(Solution)


Puzzle by Michael DiSpezio.

More information is available about DiSpezio's books.

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The Math Forum
2 September 2000