A parabolic satellite dish has a cross section that can be modelled by the equation $$y = 0.05\,x^2.$$ While still in the shipping yard, the dish fills with rain. The rain forms a circular puddle with a diameter of $2$m. What is the depth of the water at the centre of the dish?
Asked
Active
Viewed 1,929 times
0
-
Draw a picture of the parabola, and then use the diameter given to find the value of x. – user84413 Aug 11 '14 at 17:34
1 Answers
0
$y = 0.05x^2$. If you fix the bottom apex of the dish is (0,0). The diameter of the circular puddle is 2m. The value of x = 1 (diameter/2). Substitute the value of x to find the value of y = 0.05*1 = 0.05. The depth of water at the center of the dish is 0.05m.
Satish Ramanathan
- 11,984
-
Brilliant! So it was a matter of identifying y as representing the depth and x as the radius. Thanks again! – Student Aug 11 '14 at 19:04
-