Math Help

Discussion in 'Discussion Group' started by Grace Slick, Oct 20, 2007.

  1. Grace Slick

    Grace Slick Well-Known Member

    Okay, I stated that my daughter would probably need some help with math but did not realize it would be so quickly.

    Here goes:

    A long piece of colored paper is attached as a party decoration at the top corners of a wall of a rectangular room, the strip of paper approximates a parabola with the equation y=.008(x-25) squared + 10. The bottom left corner of the wall is the origin.

    Questions:

    1. How far apart are the corners?

    2. How high is the ceiling?

    Please help me understand how to get to the answers on these questions. I appreciate it.

    Grace's daughter
     
  2. zookeeper

    zookeeper Well-Known Member

    Last edited: Oct 20, 2007
  3. Grace Slick

    Grace Slick Well-Known Member


    Thanks, zookeeper. She will be on the Forum soon to see if she has any hits. We have someone over here trying to explain it to her and when they are done she will get on. This is Greek to me, and would you use this in engineering and science? Asking because I don't see the purpose of these equations.

    Grace
     
  4. zookeeper

    zookeeper Well-Known Member

    My hubby is a math geek - he says parabolas are used in engineering and physics.

    He said that parabolas are an integral part in designing many structures - he used a suspension bridge as an example. He mentioned trajectory applications for air and space as well. He talks over my head, so I can't really understand what they are all about :oops: He's not one who can teach anyone anything - terrible about breaking things down. The only man I know who can actually do those ridiculously long math problems and find them relaxing :shock:
     
  5. Grace Slick

    Grace Slick Well-Known Member

    Thanks so much. She'll be on soon. Your husband sounds like he would fun. Thank him for the explanation and all.

    Grace
     
  6. Grace Slick

    Grace Slick Well-Known Member

    Thank you so much for the link. It helped me understand my homework along with someone coming over to our house. My mother loves this site and now I say "you rock".

    Grace's daughter
     

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