A Flagstaff 17.5 m High Casts a Shadow of Length 40.25 m GMAT Problem Solving

Question: A flagstaff 17.5 m high casts a shadow of length 40.25 m. The height of the building, which casts a shadow of length 28.75 m under similar conditions will be

  1. 10 m
  2. 12.5 m
  3. 17.5 m
  4. 21.25 m
  5. 23.25 m


Correct Answer
: B

Solution and Explanation
Approach Solution 1:
This problem has only 1 approach solution. 

The shadow of a flagstaff depends on the shape of its base and the angle at which it is raised. A flagpole with a large base on level ground casts a shadow that is long compared to its height. When the flagpole is raised or lowered, the shadow length increases or decreases accordingly.

Let us use method of direct proportion to solve this question
Let us assume the height of the building to be x meters.
Less lengthy shadow, means height is less (Direct Proportion)

So, Let us substitute the values

\(\frac{17.5}{x}=\frac{40.25}{28.75} \)

On solving this further the equation Thus becomes,

40.25 * \(x\) =28.75*17.5

To find the value of x, lets evaluate it further more

\(X=\frac{28.75*17.5}{40.25} \)

The value of x , comes out to be,

x = 12.5

Therefore, The height of the building, which casts a shadow of length 28.75 m under similar conditions will be 12.5m
The answer is B, 12.5m

“A flagstaff 17.5 m high casts a shadow of length 40.25 m.”- is a topic of the GMAT Quantitative reasoning section of GMAT. To solve GMAT Problem Solving questions a student must have knowledge about a good amount of qualitative skills. GMAT Quant practice papers improve the mathematical knowledge of the candidates as it represents multiple sorts of quantitative problems.


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