Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 08:03 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 08:03
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,389
Own Kudos:
778,260
 [3]
Given Kudos: 99,977
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,389
Kudos: 778,260
 [3]
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,389
Own Kudos:
778,260
 [1]
Given Kudos: 99,977
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,389
Kudos: 778,260
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Fdambro294
Joined: 10 Jul 2019
Last visit: 20 Aug 2025
Posts: 1,350
Own Kudos:
742
 [1]
Given Kudos: 1,656
Posts: 1,350
Kudos: 742
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
SaquibHGMATWhiz
User avatar
GMATWhiz Representative
Joined: 23 May 2022
Last visit: 12 Jun 2024
Posts: 623
Own Kudos:
724
 [1]
Given Kudos: 6
Location: India
GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V40
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V40
Posts: 623
Kudos: 724
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel

A hiker is trying to determine the height of a vertical cliff using similar triangles. If he holds his 2-meter high staff perpendicular to the ground so that the end of the cliff's shadow coincides with the end of the staff's shadow, what is the height of the cliff?

(1) The staff's shadow is 5 meters long.
(2) The cliff's shadow is 10 times as long as the staff's shadow.

Solution:
Pre Analysis:
  • I have made a simplified diagram where 2 triangles ABD and ECD are similar
  • Since they are similar, we can say \(\frac{AB}{EC}=\frac{BD}{CD}=\frac{AD}{ED}\) or \(\frac{h}{2}=\frac{BD}{CD}=\frac{AD}{ED}\)
  • We are asked the value of h
Attachment:
cliff.png
cliff.png [ 2.65 KiB | Viewed 1236 times ]

Statement 1: The staff's shadow is 5 meters long
  • According to this statement, \(CD=5\)
  • So, \(\frac{h}{2}=\frac{BD}{5}=\frac{BC+5}{5}\)
  • But this is not sufficient to get the value of h without the value of BC
  • statement 1 alone is not sufficient and we can eliminate options A and D

Statement 2: The cliff's shadow is 10 times as long as the staff's shadow
  • According to this statement, \(BD=10\times CD\)
  • So, \(\frac{h}{2}=\frac{BD}{CD}=\frac{10\times CD}{CD}\) or \(h=20\)
  • Thus, statement 2 alone is sufficient


Hence the right answer is Option B
Moderators:
Math Expert
105389 posts
496 posts