(a) Two small pegs are 8 cm apart on the same horizontal line. An inextensible string of length 16 cm has equal masses fastened at either end and is placed symmetrically over the pegs. The middle point of the string is pulled down vertically until it is in line with the masses. How far does each mass rise?

(b) Find an ‘acceptable’ value of x to three decimal places if the shaded area in Figure 1.34 is 10 square units.

Figure 1.34

Transcribed Image Text:

10 5x T 4 T (2x - 5)