In a suspension bridge the shape of the suspension cables is parabolic. The bridge shown in the figure has towers that are a = 640 m apart, and the lowest point of the suspension cables is b = 160 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.]

College Algebra
7th Edition
ISBN:9781305115545
Author:James Stewart, Lothar Redlin, Saleem Watson
Publisher:James Stewart, Lothar Redlin, Saleem Watson
Chapter7: Conic Sections
Section7.1: Parabolas
Problem 63E: Suspension Bridge In a suspension bridge the shape of the suspension cables is parabolic. The bridge...
icon
Related questions
icon
Concept explainers
Question
100%

Find length of cable needed??

In a suspension bridge the shape of the suspension cables is parabolic. The bridge shown in the figure has towers that are a = 640 m apart, and the lowest point of the suspension cables
is b
= 160 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.]
a
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 = 640 m apart, and the lowest point of the suspension cables is b = 160 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.] a
Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 6 steps with 1 images

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Application of Integration
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, advanced-math and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Recommended textbooks for you
College Algebra
College Algebra
Algebra
ISBN:
9781305115545
Author:
James Stewart, Lothar Redlin, Saleem Watson
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
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
College Algebra (MindTap Course List)
College Algebra (MindTap Course List)
Algebra
ISBN:
9781305652231
Author:
R. David Gustafson, Jeff Hughes
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Algebra and Trigonometry (MindTap Course List)
Algebra and Trigonometry (MindTap Course List)
Algebra
ISBN:
9781305071742
Author:
James Stewart, Lothar Redlin, Saleem Watson
Publisher:
Cengage Learning