What Are the Tensions in Each Cable of a Suspension Bridge?

[andrewkirk]

I'd love to see how the textbook got their answers. Doubling doesn't appear to explain my discrepancy.

True.
The textbook answer looks ridiculous to me. Since $\frac{\sqrt{5}}{2}>1.1$ it is saying, via its value for AB and EF, that each of the four pylons is resisting a force equal to more than the entire weight of the bridge.

 

[NascentOxygen]

Yes, it would be fun to see if they match mine [(mg/4)sqrt(2) for AB and EF, and (mg/8)sqrt(5) for BC and DE].

These are also the answers I arrived at. (No saying I haven't blundered somewhere, though.)[/color][/size][/color]