Math Problem Statement
The profile of the cables on a suspension bridge may be modeled by a parabola. The central span of the bridge is 1260 m long and 139 m high. The parabola y equals 0.00035 x squared gives a good fit to the shape of the cables, where StartAbsoluteValue x EndAbsoluteValue less than or equals 630, and x and y are measured in meters. Approximate the length of the cables that stretch between the tops of the two towers. 1260 m 139 m y x Question content area bottom Part 1 The length of the cables is approximately enter your response here meters. (Round to the nearest whole number.)
Solution
The length of the cables can be found by calculating the arc length of the parabola between the two towers, which is modeled by the equation , where . The formula for the arc length of a function over an interval is:
Here, is the derivative of , so we first compute the derivative:
Now, we need to plug this into the arc length formula. We are computing the arc length from to , so the total arc length is:
Let's calculate this integral to find the approximate length of the cables.The approximate length of the cables stretching between the tops of the two towers is 1300 meters (rounded to the nearest whole number).
Would you like further details or explanations on how this was calculated?
Here are five related questions you might find interesting:
- How is the arc length formula derived from calculus?
- What other shapes can suspension bridge cables follow, aside from parabolas?
- Can the arc length formula be applied to 3D curves?
- What are practical uses of arc length calculations in engineering?
- How would the cable length change if the span or height of the bridge changed?
Tip: When calculating the arc length of a curve, always check if symmetry can simplify the computation.
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Calculus
Arc Length
Parabolas
Formulas
Arc length formula: L = ∫_a^b √(1 + (dy/dx)^2) dx
Derivative of y = 0.00035x^2: dy/dx = 0.0007x
Theorems
Arc Length Theorem
Suitable Grade Level
Grades 11-12 (Advanced High School or Early College)
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