Answer:
The correct option is;
21 ft
Step-by-step explanation:
The equation of the parabolic arc is as follows;
y = a(x - h)² + k
Where the height is 25 ft and the span is 40 ft, the coordinates of the vertex (h, k) is then (20, 25)
We therefore have;
y = a(x - 20)² + 25
Whereby the parabola starts from the origin (0, 0), we have;
0 = a(0 - 20)² + 25
0 = 20²a + 25 → 0 = 400·a + 25
∴a = -25/400 = -1/16
The equation of the parabola is therefore;
To find the height 8 ft from the center, where the center is at x = 20 we have 8 ft from center = x = 20 - 8 = 12 or x = 20 + 8 = 28
Therefore, plugging the value of x = 12 or 28 in the equation for the parabola gives;
.