This is a "real-life" math question. I have a flat piece of material, 3/8 inch thick. I want to cut this material so that when I'm done, I can bend the material into a 10 inch circle with the ends fitting together perfectly.
I was able to calculate the the length I need for the inner and outer circumferences - 29.1" and 31.4". So I thought I should draw what that would look like. I drew a trapezoid (I think) where the top was 29.1" long and centered above the 31.4" line. Then I connected the left endpoints, and the right endpoints. I realized that this wouldn't actually work - the ends wouldn't fit together except at one point. I'm pretty sure I need something that looks more like a "skinny" parallelogram for the two ends to meet together properly - but a parallelogram would make the inner and outer circumferences the same which obviously can't happen.
I know I can make the piece I need by bending a longer piece - say 34" for example, and making one cut through the overlapping pieces at 10". So I can make what I need in "real-life" - but it's driving me crazy knowing there must be a way to figure out how to cut my piece of material using math! But I'm not sure how...would someone enlighten me please?
Larry
I was able to calculate the the length I need for the inner and outer circumferences - 29.1" and 31.4". So I thought I should draw what that would look like. I drew a trapezoid (I think) where the top was 29.1" long and centered above the 31.4" line. Then I connected the left endpoints, and the right endpoints. I realized that this wouldn't actually work - the ends wouldn't fit together except at one point. I'm pretty sure I need something that looks more like a "skinny" parallelogram for the two ends to meet together properly - but a parallelogram would make the inner and outer circumferences the same which obviously can't happen.
I know I can make the piece I need by bending a longer piece - say 34" for example, and making one cut through the overlapping pieces at 10". So I can make what I need in "real-life" - but it's driving me crazy knowing there must be a way to figure out how to cut my piece of material using math! But I'm not sure how...would someone enlighten me please?
Larry