Posted by Joel on November 01, 2002 at 18:54:56:
In Reply to: Depth of Well posted by RD on November 01, 2002 at 15:52:05:
: A bricklayer is standing on a temporary platform suspended in a well renewing the top layer of brick. He is five and half feet in height. The well is six times as deep as this platform is below ground level. When he stood on the bottom of the well his head was five times as far below ground level (where his assistant was standing) as his head is above it now. How deep is the well?
: Please explain in detail. Thank you.
Let P = distance platform is below ground
6P = depth of well
Dist. #1 from top of head to ground level now = 5.5 - P.
Dist. #2 from top of head to ground level when standing at bottom was 6P - 5.5
You are told that the second distance is 5 times the first, so
6P - 5.5 = 5*(5.5 - P)
6P - 5.5 = 27.5 - 5P
11P = 33
P = 3 feet
Dist. #1 = 5.5 - P = 2.5
Dist. #2 = 6P - 5.5 = 18 - 5.5 = 12.5 [5 * 2.5 = 12.5]