Gateway Arch
The Gateway Arch in St. Louis is often mistaken to be parabolic is shape. In fact, it is a catenary, which has a more complicated formula than a parabola. The Arch is 625 feet high and 598 feet wide at its base.

(a) Find the equation of a parabola with the same dimensions. Let x equal the horizontal distance from the center of the arc.

Now i know the solution. The solution is:

y= -625/(299)^2+625. The equation of a parabola is y=x^2 and the coefficient in front of x compresses or stretches the graph. How does it work for this problem? can someone help me with the steps.

Question

Gateway Arch
The Gateway Arch in St. Louis is often mistaken to be parabolic is shape. In fact, it is a catenary, which has a more complicated formula than a parabola. The Arch is 625 feet high and 598 feet wide at its base.

(a) Find the equation of a parabola with the same dimensions. Let x equal the horizontal distance from the center of the arc.

Now i know the solution. The solution is:

y= -625/(299)^2+625. The equation of a parabola is y=x^2 and the coefficient in front of x compresses or stretches the graph. How does it work for this problem? can someone help me with the steps.

anonymous · Answer

Help anyone??

directrix · Answer

Is there supposed to be an x variable here?  >>>  y= -625/(299)^2+625.

anonymous · Answer

yeah sorry i mistyped it.
y=-625/(299)x^2+625

the question is under the conics section in my book. Hyperbolas...