XP: Math Genius Needed!!

twixinthemix · March 2011

Has anyone bought their own lighting for their tent or made garlands to hang? I'm having a horrible time figuring out the length of lighting and garlands considering they'll be going from the edge of the tent to the middle and you'll have an angle because the middle of the tent being higher than the sides. Any math geniuses know how to help me out here? Is there some formula I need??

perkins81 · April 2011

Well, you could use the Pythagorean Theorem (a squared + b squared = c squared) if you set it up as a right triangle - it sounds like you would be needing to find the hypotenuse (the longest side). However, you would need to know the legs of the triangle - one would be the length from the side of the tent directly to the middle (you could even measure along the ground) but the other one is tricky b/c you would need to know the distance from the edge of the tent straight up to where the highest point would be. You can find this if you know the height of the highest point and then subtract the height of the edge of the tent (from the ground up).

But, as you can see, it's a bit complicated to try and explain it in words without pictures, so . . . my advice is just measure the distance straight across and then add a but more (maybe a third or so). The higher the "angle" is, the more you'll need. Good luck!

BTW, I'm a HS math teacher

XP: Math Genius Needed!!

2012 Reading Challenge

Re: XP: Math Genius Needed!!

Choose Another Board

Search Boards