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Parabola Sample Problem

The document provides 3 sample problems involving parabolas and satellite dishes. The first problem asks the distance of the receiver from the vertex of a 12 ft wide, 4.5 ft deep satellite dish. The second problem asks the height of a suspension bridge cable 50 ft from the towers, given it forms a parabola between the 400 ft apart, 150 ft high towers. The third problem asks the distance of the receiver from the vertex of a 10 ft wide, 4 ft deep satellite dish, if placed at the focus. Detailed step-by-step solutions are provided for each problem applying the standard parabola equation.

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196 views3 pages

Parabola Sample Problem

The document provides 3 sample problems involving parabolas and satellite dishes. The first problem asks the distance of the receiver from the vertex of a 12 ft wide, 4.5 ft deep satellite dish. The second problem asks the height of a suspension bridge cable 50 ft from the towers, given it forms a parabola between the 400 ft apart, 150 ft high towers. The third problem asks the distance of the receiver from the vertex of a 10 ft wide, 4 ft deep satellite dish, if placed at the focus. Detailed step-by-step solutions are provided for each problem applying the standard parabola equation.

Uploaded by

trishamaye santillan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Parabola : Sample problems

1. A satellite dish has a shape called a paraboloid, where each cross-section is a parabola. Since
radio signals (parallel to the axis) will bounce off the surface of the dish to the focus, the
receiver should be placed at the focus. How far should the receiver be from the vertex, if the
dish is 12 ft across, and 4.5 ft deep at the vertex?
Given: The dish is 12ft across and 4.5 deep at the vertex
Find: distance of the receiver from the vertex

Illustration:

Solution.
The second figure above shows a cross-section of the satellite dish drawn on a rectangular
coordinate system, with the vertex at the origin. From the problem, we deduce that (6, 4.5) is a
point on the parabola. We need the distance of the receiver from the vertex or it is the distance
of the focus from the vertex.
Step 1. Standard equation of parabola at the origin
x2 = 4ay
Step 2. Solve for a. Using one point on the parabola such as (6,4.5) .
x2 = 4ay
(6)2 = 4a(4.5)
36 = 18a
a =2

Step 3. Final answer

Thus, the receiver should be 2 ft away from the vertex.


2. The cable of a suspension bridge hangs in the shape of a parabola. The towers supporting the
cable are 400 ft apart and 150 ft high. If the cable, at its lowest, is 30 ft above the bridge at its
midpoint, how high is the cable 50 ft away (horizontally) from either tower?

Given:
The towers supporting the cable are 400 ft apart and 150 ft high. The lowest point is (0, 30).
Find: The height of the cable 50 ft away (horizontally) from either tower

Illustration:

Solution.
Refer to the figure above, where the parabolic cable is drawn with its vertex on the y-axis 30 ft
above the origin.
Step 1. The standard equation is (x -0)2 = 4a ( y -30).
Step 2. Since we don’t need the focal distance or the distance from focus to vertex. Therefore
there is no need to solve for a, hence, Let 4a = m and (200, 150) be a point on the parabola,
(x -0)2 = 4a ( y -30)
x2 = 4a ( y -30)
(200)2 = m (150 - 30 )
40000 = 120m
40000 1000
m= 120
= 3
1000
Hence, substitute m to 4a to x2 = 4a ( y -30), we get x2 = 3
( y -30).

Step 3. For the two points on the parabola 50 ft away from the towers, x = 150 or x = - 150.

If x = 150, then
1000
(150)2 = 3
( y -30)
1000
22500 = 3
( y -30)

67500 = 1000y – 30000


1000y = 97500
y = 97.5

Thus, the cable is 97.5 ft high 50 ft away from either tower.

Note: As expected, we get the same answer from x = -150.


3. A satellite dish in the shape of a paraboloid is 10 ft across, and 4 ft deep at its vertex. How far is
the receiver from the vertex, if it is placed at the focus? Round off your answer to 2 decimal
places. Use your notebook as answer sheet.

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