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 Question from Patrick: If an arch is 48 inches wide at the base and 30 inches tall at its apex, what is the length of the arch?

Hi Patrick,

I am assuming this is a circular arch.

If the length of a circular arc is $a$ units and the angle subtended by the arc, at the center of the circle is $t^o$ than

$a = 2 \pi \; r \frac{t}{360}.$

Thus you need to find $r$ the radius of the circle and the measure $t$ of the angle subtended by the arc.

In my diagram of your arc $C$ is the center of the circle, $A$ and $B$ are the ends of the arc and $P$ is its apex.

$|AC| = r, |PD| = 30$ inches and $|DA| = 24$ inches. Thus $ADC$ is a right triangle with sides of length $|AD| = 24$ inches and $|DC| = r - 20$ inches. Its hypotenuse is of length $r$ inches. Use Pythagoras Theorem to solve for $r.$ Use a trig function to find the measure of angle $DCA.$

I hope this helps,

Penny

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