The Parabol The Gateway Arch

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A parabola is a two-dimensional, symmetrical and curved line on a graph. When graphed, it forms a U-shaped line, or in other words, a mirror-symmetrical curved line that approximately makes a U-shape. All parabolas are vaguely U-shaped, and some will have a lowest point, and some will have a highest point. Those points are called the vertex (of the parabola). A parabola will always have a (single) y-intercept, and may or may not have an x- intercept. The parts of a parabola include a set amount of points in a plane that are equidistant from a fixed point and a fixed line on the plane. The fixed line is often referred to as the directrix and the fixed point is usually called the focus. Parabolas are often used in quadratic functions to solve …show more content…

The Gateway Arch, designed by the Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen, is a monument located in St. Louis, Missouri. Measuring 630 feet, the Gateway Arch is the world’s tallest arch. It is also Missouri’s tallest accessible building. The Gateway Arch was built to celebrate President Thomas Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase of 1803. The parabola serves no real purpose, except for the beauty of its sleek design. It was chosen in 1948, during a nationwide competition to design a monument for the pioneers of St. Louis. The winner of the contest was Eero Saarinen, and he is now known as a famous industrial designer of the 20th …show more content…

Since its completion in 1836, the Arc de Triomphe has stood the test of time through harsh weather conditions, centuries of traffic, and a few wars. The secret behind this Parisian icon's longevity is all in its structure. The Arc de Triomphe or "Arch of Triumph" is just that. The parabolic shape is what has supported this historical landmark for so long. Its semicircular shape evenly distributes compression through the entire form and diverts the pressure to the legs of the arch. Because of this, the Arch de Triomphe, despite its massive size, still stands

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