hay um i have a math assignment and i am having alot of difficulty with a problem. i have to make a piece of triangle cloth fit over 3 play equipment. each edge has to be 1-1.3m away from the edge of play equipment.

Question

anonymous · Answer

hold on and i'll attach a file with it in there

anonymous · Answer

this is the file

anonymous · Answer

pick the three points that are furthest apart, draw a circle with a radius of 1.3 on each point. Then draw the largest triangle possible with vertices on the circles. Then find the equations of the lines. You can use an approximation of the points you determined to find slopes and the formula m=(y1-y2)/(x1-x2) to find the y intercepts (m = the slope). Your algebraic justification would be that your posts are the your method stays within the parameters and gives the maximum covering.

anonymous · Answer

cool thanks thats awsome so i do have to use the circles? i have two teachers that say two different things. one says that circle thing and one says that  i have to kinda make it a straight line against the side of the equipment.

anonymous · Answer

Ok, I would use the circles. The point of the assignment is to get you thinking about how to use some algebra and geometry together. So keep with the idea of having 3 circles with a radius of 1.3 at the three furthest points. The easiest method I can think of to get the needed points on the circles is to find the equations of three lines that pass through the three centers of the circles, then find three other lines that are perpendicular to those three lines. When you get the three lines that are perpendicular, set them equal to the equation of its perspective circle and use the correct point of the two points you get. I attached a sketch showing what I'm getting at.