Question

The vertical motion of a seat on a Ferris wheel can be described by the equation `y=25cos(pit/3) +26`. What is the diameter of the wheel in feet?

Answer 1

`50` feet.

Explanation:

The diameter will be the difference between the maximum and minimum heights.

We have an amplitude of `25` and a vertical displacement of `26`, so the minimum is `26 - 25 = 1` and the maximum is `26 + 25 = 51`.

Therefore, the diameter is `51 - 1 = 50`, or twice the amplitude.

Hopefully this helps!