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Math Projd

The document contains 3 math word problems involving parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas. The first problem is about finding the equation of a parabolic arch and identifying its focus and directrix. The solution finds the equation to be y = -9(x^2) with a focus of (0, 9/4) and directrix of y = 10 9/4. The second problem asks how far whispering dishes should be placed in an elliptical room for two girls to whisper to each other, but provides no solution. The third problem involves finding the equation of a hyperbola representing possible locations of an airplane based on distances measured by two radar sites, but again provides no solution.

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Maria Emelda Dela Cruz
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761 views3 pages

Math Projd

The document contains 3 math word problems involving parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas. The first problem is about finding the equation of a parabolic arch and identifying its focus and directrix. The solution finds the equation to be y = -9(x^2) with a focus of (0, 9/4) and directrix of y = 10 9/4. The second problem asks how far whispering dishes should be placed in an elliptical room for two girls to whisper to each other, but provides no solution. The third problem involves finding the equation of a hyperbola representing possible locations of an airplane based on distances measured by two radar sites, but again provides no solution.

Uploaded by

Maria Emelda Dela Cruz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PROBLEM 1: Parabola

An arch in a memorial park, having a parabolic shape, has a height of 25 feet and a base width of 30 feet. Find an equation which
models this shape, using the x-axis to represent the ground. State the focus and directrix.

SOLUTION
For simplicity, I'll center the curve for the arch on the y-axis, so the vertex will be at (h, k) = (0, 25). Since the width is thirty, then
the x-intercepts must be at x = –15 and x = +15. Obviously, this is a regular (vertical) but upside-down parabola, so the x part is
squared and I'll have a negative leading coefficient.

Working backwards from the x-intercepts, the equation has to be of the form y =
a(x – 15)(x + 15). Plugging in the known vertex value, I get:

25 = a(0 – 15)(0 + 15) = –225a

Then a = –1/9. With a being the leading coefficient from the regular quadratic equation y = ax2 + bx + c, I also know that the value
of 1/a is the same as the value of 4p, so 1/(–1/9) = –9 = 4p, and thus p = –9/4.

The focus is 9/4 units below the vertex; the directrix is the horizontal line 9/4 units above the vertex:

4p(y – h) = (x – k)2
4(–9/4)(y – 25) = (x – 0)2
–9(y – 25) = x2

focus: (0, 91/4), directrix: y = 109/4

You could also work directly from the conics form of the parabola equation, plugging in the vertex and an x-intercept, to find the
value of p:

4p(y – 25) = (x – 0)2


4p(0 – 25) = (15 – 0)2
4p(–25) = 225
4p = –225/25 = –9
p = –9/4

PROBLEM 2:
Ellipse
Two girls
are
standing in
a
whispering
gallery that
is shaped
like semi-
elliptical
arch. The
height of
the arch is
30 feet, and
the width is
100 feet.
How far
from the
center of
the room should whispering dishes be placed so that the girls can whisper to each other? (Whispering dishes are places at the foci
of an ellipse).

S0LUTION

PROBLEM 3: Hyperbola
Two radar sites are tracking an airplane that is flying on a hyperbolic path. The first radar site is located at (0,0), and shows the
airplane to be 200 meters away at a certain time. The second radar site, located 160 miles east of the first, shows the airplane to
be 100 meters away at this same time. Find the coordinates of all possible points where the airplane could be located. (Find the
equation of the hyperbola where the plane could be located).

SOLUTION

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