SOLUTION: An arch is in the shape of a parabola. It has a span of 180 meters and a maximum height of 15 meters. What is the equation of the parabola? Please and thank you, I'm totally stu

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Question 1150069: An arch is in the shape of a parabola. It has a span of 180 meters and a maximum height of 15 meters. What is the equation of the parabola?
Please and thank you, I'm totally stumped

Answer by ikleyn(52832)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.

Place the origin of the coordinate system on the ground level under at the vertex of the parabola, 
i.e. under the top point of the arc.


Let x be horizontal axis and y be the vertical axis, directed up.


Then the equation of the parabola is  y = -ax^2 + 15.


Then the span of the parabola is from x = -90 m to x= 90 m.


Hence,  y = 0 = ,   or


    a*90^2 = 15,

    a =  =  =  = .


Thus the equation of the parabola is  y = .   ANSWER

Solved.


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