A shadow 16 feet long is cast by a fir tree that is 30 feet tall. What is the length of the shadow cast by a nearby water tower that that is 60 feet tall? Write your answer as a whole number or a decimal. Do not round.

To determine the length of the shadow cast by the water tower, we can use the concept of similar triangles. Here's how: 1. **Given:** - **Fir Tree:** - Height = 30 feet - Shadow Length = 16 feet - **Water Tower:** - Height = 60 feet - Shadow Length = \( x \) feet 2. **Set Up the Proportion:** Since the sun's angle is the same for both the tree and the water tower, the ratio of height to shadow length is constant. \[ \frac{\text{Height of Tree}}{\text{Shadow of Tree}} = \frac{\text{Height of Water Tower}}{\text{Shadow of Water Tower}} \] \[ \frac{30}{16} = \frac{60}{x} \] 3. **Solve for \( x \):** \[ 30x = 60 \times 16 \] \[ 30x = 960 \] \[ x = \frac{960}{30} \] \[ x = 32 \] **Answer:** 32