Tell me more ×
Mathematics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for people studying math at any level and professionals in related fields. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 1 down vote favorite

Im not sure if this question is easy or not, the concept of what I'm asking seems simple but I cant figure it out.

enter image description here

Given that A0 = 100, and h = 10, how would I calculate Az.

enter image description here

I have begun by trying to calculate 'x' and then obtain the slope from this but I dont know if I'm over complicating the situation. Can anyone suggest a method for this?

share|improve this question
The best you can do is write $AZ=100-2x$. Are you trying to find the minimum value of the perimeter of such a trapezoid? If so, note the length of the left/right side is, by the Pythagorean Theorem, $\sqrt{10^2+x^2}$. – David Mitra Jan 10 at 15:44
What keeps $Az$ from being zero (or arbitrarily close to it)? You need more information. – Ross Millikan Jan 10 at 16:05
Thanks for your comments. I am trying to calculate the volume of water in a theoretical lake where as h (the lake depth) increases Az decreases (assuming a conical shaped lake). From your comments I gather that I need the slope (angle), which I could take to be anything really. – Kate Jan 10 at 16:23

Know someone who can answer? Share a link to this question via email, Google+, Twitter, or Facebook.

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.