In a suspension bridge the shape of the suspension cables is parabolic. The bridge shown in the figure has towers that are a = 520 m apart, and the lowest point of the suspension cables is b= 130 m below the top of the towers. Find the equation of the parabolic part of the cables, placing the origin of the coordinate system at the vertex. [Note: This equation is used to find the length of the cable needed in the construction of the bridge.]

Algebra & Trigonometry with Analytic Geometry
13th Edition
ISBN:9781133382119
Author:Swokowski
Publisher:Swokowski
Chapter11: Topics From Analytic Geometry
Section11.3: Hyperbolas
Problem 35E
icon
Related questions
Question
In a suspension bridge the shape of the suspension cables is parabolic. The bridge shown in the figure has towers that are
a = 520 m apart, and the lowest point of the suspension cables is b = 130 m below the top of the towers. Find the equation of the
parabolic part of the cables, placing the origin of the coordinate system at the vertex. [Note: This equation is used to find the
length of the cable needed in the construction of the bridge.]
Transcribed Image Text:In a suspension bridge the shape of the suspension cables is parabolic. The bridge shown in the figure has towers that are a = 520 m apart, and the lowest point of the suspension cables is b = 130 m below the top of the towers. Find the equation of the parabolic part of the cables, placing the origin of the coordinate system at the vertex. [Note: This equation is used to find the length of the cable needed in the construction of the bridge.]
Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 3 steps with 3 images

Blurred answer
Recommended textbooks for you
Algebra & Trigonometry with Analytic Geometry
Algebra & Trigonometry with Analytic Geometry
Algebra
ISBN:
9781133382119
Author:
Swokowski
Publisher:
Cengage
College Algebra
College Algebra
Algebra
ISBN:
9781337282291
Author:
Ron Larson
Publisher:
Cengage Learning