9.75 ft
Since the triangles formed by the heights and shadows, the ratios of corresponding sides are equal.
the corresponding sides are the heights and the lengths of the shadows
let h be the height of the tree, then
[tex]\frac{h}{4.5}[/tex] = [tex]\frac{26}{12}[/tex] ( cross- multiply )
12h = 4.5 × 26 = 117 ( divide both sides by 12 )
h = 9.75
hence the height of the tree is 9.75 ft