document.write( "Question 826452: Okay, I am stuck with Paul's trucking company which hauls oversized loads. The truck travels through a tunnel with a wide opening in the shape of a parabola that is 12 meters wide and and 6 meters high.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "How do I find a function, T(x), for the shape of the tunnel. I am also supposed to draw it but it would be a huge favor if I get a walk-in through this and that won't be much of a work if I get that far.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I appreciate the help in advance, and I look forward to get a reply soon. Thanks :)
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Algebra.Com's Answer #498084 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The truck travels through a tunnel with a wide opening in the shape of a parabola that is 12 meters wide and and 6 meters high.
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\n" ); document.write( "using the form ax^2 + bx + c = y
\n" ); document.write( "Let's have the parabola have the axis of symmetry at 0, then c = 6
\n" ); document.write( "and the x intercepts will be -6 and +6 (12 m apart)
\n" ); document.write( "write an equation for x = 6, y = 0 and for x = -6, y = 0
\n" ); document.write( "36a + 6b + 6 = 0
\n" ); document.write( "36a - 6b + 6 = 0
\n" ); document.write( "-----------------adding eliminates b, find a
\n" ); document.write( "72a + 12 = 0
\n" ); document.write( "72a = -12
\n" ); document.write( "a = -12/72
\n" ); document.write( "a = -.167
\n" ); document.write( "The middle term cancels so we can write the equation
\n" ); document.write( "T(x) = -.167x^2 + 6
\n" ); document.write( "y = -.167x^2 + 6, graphically
\n" ); document.write( "\"+graph%28+300%2C+200%2C+-10%2C+10%2C+-3%2C+10%2C-.167x%5E2+%2B+6%2C+3.3+%29+\"
\n" ); document.write( "note that it is 12m wide and 6 m high
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\n" ); document.write( "You can create a table using x and finding y to determine what the height the
\n" ); document.write( "truck can be if you know the width of the truck
\n" ); document.write( "For example if the truck were 8 ft wide, (x = +4, -4), then
\n" ); document.write( "-.167(4^2) + 6 = 3.3 meter, load height has to be less than 3.3 meters (green line)
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