Math Problem Statement

The transportation department has to put a railing along the outer curve of this road. The road is 20 feet wide. What is the length of the outer curve to the nearest foot? Use the value = 3.14.

A bending rectangular path width of 20 feet is marked, and a point marked, the outer side of the path with 50 feet and its angle of 70 degrees is marked. A. 68 feet B. 74 feet C. 86 feet D. 92 feet E. 102 feet

Solution

To solve this problem, we need to calculate the length of the outer curve of the road. Since the path is part of a circle, we can use the formula for the length of an arc:

Arc Length=rθ\text{Arc Length} = r \cdot \theta

where:

  • rr is the radius of the circle,
  • θ\theta is the central angle in radians.

Step 1: Determine the radii

  • The radius of the inner curve is rinner=50r_{\text{inner}} = 50 feet.
  • The width of the road is 20 feet, so the radius of the outer curve is router=50+20=70r_{\text{outer}} = 50 + 20 = 70 feet.

Step 2: Convert the angle from degrees to radians

  • The central angle θ\theta is given as 70 degrees.
  • To convert degrees to radians:

θradians=θdegrees×π180=70×3.14180=1.22 radians (approx)\theta_{\text{radians}} = \theta_{\text{degrees}} \times \frac{\pi}{180} = 70 \times \frac{3.14}{180} = 1.22 \text{ radians (approx)}

Step 3: Calculate the length of the outer curve

Using the outer radius router=70r_{\text{outer}} = 70 feet and the angle in radians θ=1.22\theta = 1.22 radians:

Arc Length=router×θ=70×1.22=85.4 feet\text{Arc Length} = r_{\text{outer}} \times \theta = 70 \times 1.22 = 85.4 \text{ feet}

Step 4: Round to the nearest foot

The nearest whole number is 85 feet, which is closest to 86 feet.

Final Answer

The length of the outer curve is approximately 86 feet, which corresponds to option C.


Would you like further details or have any questions? Here are some related questions to consider:

  1. How do you calculate the arc length for different angles?
  2. What are some practical applications of calculating arc lengths in real-world scenarios?
  3. How do you convert angles between degrees and radians?
  4. What is the relationship between the radius and arc length of a circle?
  5. How would the arc length change if the road width was increased?

Tip: Always ensure the angle is in radians when using the formula Arc Length=rθ\text{Arc Length} = r \cdot \theta.

Ask a new question for Free

By Image

Drop file here or Click Here to upload

Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Geometry
Circle Geometry

Formulas

Arc Length Formula: arc length = radius × central angle

Theorems

-

Suitable Grade Level

High School