The arch of the gateshead millennium bridge forms a parabola with equation:
y= -0.016(x-52.5)²+45
where x is the horizontal distance (in meters) from the arch’s left end and y is the distance (in meters) from the base of the arch. what is the width of the arch?

  about 106 meters

Step-by-step explanation:

The difference in x-values when y=0 is found by solving ...

  0 = -0.016(x -52.5)² +45

  -45 = -0.016(x -52.5)² . . . . . . subtract 45

  45/0.016 = (x -52.5)² . . . . . . . divide by the coefficient of the squared term

  ±√2812.5 = x -52.5 . . . . . . . . take the square root

  x = 52.5 ±√2812.5 . . . . . . . . .add 52.5. These are the x-values where y=0.

So, the difference in x-values at y=0 is ...

  (52.5 +√( )) - (52.5 -√( )) = 2√2812.5 ≈ 106.07 . . . . meters

The width of the arch at ground level is about 106 meters.

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step-by-step explanation: