______________________________________________________________________________________________

DON BOSCO TECHNICAL INSTITUTE MATHEMATICS 9

STO. CRISTO, TARLAC CITY, PHILIPPINES 2300 Performance Task: The University
SCHOOL YEAR 2021 - 2022 Bridge Project

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Group No. _________________ Grade & Section: ___________

Group Members: __________________________________
__________________________________

Title: University Bridge Project

This task will assess your knowledge of the outcomes you have studied in quadratic equations. You will be assessed
on processes not just your answers, so be sure to communicate how you arrive at your answers.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Saskatoon, also known as the "City of Bridges", is located on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River. The river is
crossed by seven bridges within the city limits. One of those bridges is the University Bridge. Construction on the
bridge commenced in 1913 allowing access to the newly opened university campus. It was three years later on
October 31, 1916 when the bridge was officially opened. The population at the time, according to a federal census,
was 21, 054 people.

By the mid 1960's the population of Saskatoon had grown to over 100 000 people. To ease the traffic congestion on
other roads, an underpass was constructed. The riverbank under the University Bridge was built up to accommodate
the new road.

Did the engineers who designed the underpass in the 60's allow for semi-trailer traffic?

To help us answer this question a little more information is required.

1. The width of the roadway from the center of the double to the edge of the road is 29 feet.

2. The gutter of the road extends 13 feet from the outer edge of the road on either side. The endpoints of the
arch begin at the end of the gutter.

3. The center of the arch reaches to a height of 18 feet above the road.

4. The “Trucking Guide to Saskatchewan Weight and Dimension Regulations” (found on the Saskatchewan
Highways and Transportation web site) states that the legal dimensions for truck width and height are 8.5
feet and 13.5 feet respectively.
 Will the semi described above be able to travel under this underpass?

PART I

The following is a picture of the University Bridge in Saskatoon. Below it, is a graphical representation of the
underpass under the bridge, made by placing the vertex on the y-axis.

*** ignore the dimensions given in the photo below.

(29, ?)
18’

(0, 0)
x

29’ 13’
1. What are the coordinates of the vertex of the underpass? __(0,18) is the vertex because it is the maximum point of
the parabola._____

2. Does the arch open up or open down?

Open down, because the a is negative
3. Does the arch representing the underpass have a minimum or maximum value?
It is Maximum value, because the arch opens downward. And the vertex point is the highest point in the arch.
4. What is the minimum or maximum value of the underpass?
The coordinates of the maximum value is (0, 18)
5. How would you be able to tell if the parabola opens up or down if you are only provided with the equation?
I would tell that parabola opens up if the a is positive and if a is negative it will open down
6. What are the coordinates representing the endpoints of the arch?
(-42, 0) and (42, 0)

7. Algebraically determine the function representing the parabolic arch of the University Bridge underpass in the
form . Be sure to prove your “a” value using algebra substitution.
y=a( x−0)²+18
0=a( 42−0)²+18
0=a(42)²+18
0=a(1764 )+18
0=1764 a+18
−18=1764 a
−18 1764 a
=
1764 1764
−1
=a
98
−1
y= (x−0)²+18
98

−1
Function: y= (x−0) ²+18
98
PART II

(29, ?)
18’

(0, 0)
x

29’ 13’

8. What is the maximum vehicle height that can pass under the arch at the outer edge of the roadway?
Demonstrate your answer algebraically.

9. Is the underpass able to accommodate semi-truck and trailer units? Explain your answer. Include any limitations
that exist for the truck and trailer units to pass.