Will a rectangular truck fit into a half circle formed tunnel when

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a geometry problem involving a rectangular truck attempting to fit through a half-circle tunnel. The truck's dimensions and the tunnel's radius are provided, raising questions about spatial fit and geometric relationships.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply the Pythagorean theorem to determine if the truck can fit through the tunnel. They express confusion about the problem and the geometry involved.

Discussion Status

Participants are engaging in a back-and-forth about the problem, with some offering encouragement and hints. There is a recognition of the original poster's progress in understanding the geometry, though no explicit consensus is reached on the final outcome.

Contextual Notes

The original poster mentions feeling tired and unfocused, which may have impacted their ability to solve the problem initially. There is also a note about the textbook's assertion regarding the truck's fit in the tunnel.

gocuriosity
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A truck with a width of 2,40 and height of 3,41 is driving through a tunnel that is formed like a half circle and has the radius of 3,60. Will it work?

Now, this is a very pathetic question because this is junior high level geometry. I could blame the incapacity to solve this question on weariness and whatnot, yet the truth is that I suck at math, lol.

I drew a picture of this but can't get it right whatever I do. I googled the question and people have been giving explanations on how to solve it, such that I don't understand. I'm guessing that you have to use the pythagorean theroem.

According to the textbook, the correct answer is that it won't go too well because the height of the tunnel 1,20 from the center is 3,39. (1,20 being equal to 2,40/2, what is sticking out of the truck to the sides, assuming it's driving in the center of the road.

I really have no clue how to solve this.

Thank you all!
 
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No actually, it's alright. I really have no clue what was going on in my head...

3.60^2 = 1,20^2 + x^2
x^2= 12,96 - 1,44
x = sqrt(12,96 - 1,44)
x = approximately 3,39

Again, I really have no idea how I couldn't see right away that the radius = hypotenuse. I've taken classes in calculus, trig etc and passed the classes without doing a thing. I wasn't getting A's that way, however I understand those topics of mathematics.

Is it possible to be so tired and unfocused to not see the solution to that question? Maybe that's a question for a psychiatrist.

thanks anyway to you all!
 
hi gocuriosity! welcome to pf! :smile:

look at your picture: the centre of the bottom of the truck is at the centre of the circle

so the radius of the circle must be greater than … ? :wink:

EDIT: oh, you've done it! :biggrin:
 
Yeah I did it... and I really don't know what was going on in my mind when I just couldn't see the solution. :)

Sorry for posting in the wrong section!
 

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