Step-by-step explanation:
To find the height of the vertical stick, we can use the concept of similar triangles since the stick and its shadow form a right triangle with the ground.
Given:
- Length of the stick (height of the stick), \( h = 1.2 \) meters
- Length of the shadow, \( s = 40 \) centimeters \( = 0.4 \) meters
Since the triangles formed by the stick and its shadow are similar:
\[ \frac{\text{height of the stick}}{\text{length of the shadow}} = \frac{\text{height}}{\text{shadow}} \]
\[ \frac{h}{s} = \frac{1.2}{0.4} \]
Now, calculate \( h \):
\[ h = \frac{1.2 \times 0.4}{0.4} \]
\[ h = 1.2 \]
Therefore, the height of the vertical stick is \( \boxed{3} \)
