A satellite dish is shaped like a paraboloid of revolution. The signals that emanate from a satellite strike the surface of the
dish and are reflected to a single point, where the receiver is located. If the dish is 14 feet across at its opening and 2 feet deep at its center, at what position should the receiver be placed?
1 answer:
Answer:
The receiver must be placed at a distance of 6.125 ft from the center.
Step-by-step explanation:
The dish is of parabola shape with the length of 14 feet and 2 feet deep from the center.
A parabola is a curve which is a set of all points in the plane which are at equal distance away from a given point called focus and given line called directrix.
We have to find out the point at which all the waves comes to one point where the receiver must be placed is the focus of the parabola.
The above scenario is shown in the image which can be converted in mathematical graphical representation of the parabolic curve.
The extreme two end points becomes, (-7,2) and (7,2)
The general equation for such parabola is:
x² = 4ay
where, a is the distance from the center and the focus.
Since, (7,2) satisfy the equation so,
7² = 4a×2
a = 49 /8
Thus,
<u>The receiver must be placed at a distance of 6.125 ft from the center.</u>
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a) , b)
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Step-by-step explanation:
a) The graphic is enclosed to the problem. By visual inspection, an absolute maximum is found.
b) The exact method consists in the application of the First and Second Derivative Tests. First and second derivatives are, respectively:
The First Derivative Test consists in equalizing the first derivative to zero and solving the expression:
According to the second derivative, the critical point leads to a maximum. The remaining component is determined by evaluation the polynomial:
The exact solution is , indicating that graphic solution leads to a good approximation.
