document.write( "Question 995545: A cable suspended between two posts that are the same height and 10 meters apart has a sag of 1 meter. If the cable hangs in the form of a parabola, find its equation, taking the lowest point as the origin. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #614290 by stanbon(75887)![]() ![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! A cable suspended between two posts that are the same height and 10 meters apart has a sag of 1 meter. If the cable hangs in the form of a parabola, find its equation, taking the lowest point as the origin. \n" ); document.write( "--------- \n" ); document.write( "Sketch the figure on an x/y coordinate system. \n" ); document.write( "--------- \n" ); document.write( "Place the lowest point at (0,0) \n" ); document.write( "The top of the posts will be at (-5,10) and (5,10) \n" ); document.write( "----- \n" ); document.write( "Procedure:: \n" ); document.write( "Form:: ax^2 + bx + c = y \n" ); document.write( "Using (-5,10) you get: 25a - 5b = 10 \n" ); document.write( "Using (5,10) you get: 25a + 5b = 10 \n" ); document.write( "------- \n" ); document.write( "50a = 20 \n" ); document.write( "a = 2/5 \n" ); document.write( "----- \n" ); document.write( "Solve for \"b\":: \n" ); document.write( "25a + 5b = 10 \n" ); document.write( "25a + 2 = 10 \n" ); document.write( "25a = 8 \n" ); document.write( "a = 8/25 \n" ); document.write( "----- \n" ); document.write( "Equation: \n" ); document.write( "y = (8/25)x^2 + (2/5)x \n" ); document.write( "----------- \n" ); document.write( "Cheers, \n" ); document.write( "Stan H. \n" ); document.write( "---------- \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |