THE PROBLEM:

A thin belt of length surrounds two pulleys of radii and , as show in the figure.
(a) Show that the angle (in radians) where the belt crosses itself satisfies the equation
+ 2

2 +

(b) Suppose that = 2.42 ft, = 1.21 ft, and = 27.78ft. Find by solving the equation in
part (a) graphically. Express your answer both in radians and in degrees.

THE SOLUTION:
(a) Express in terms of , , and by adding up the lengths of the curved and straight parts of
the belt. Shown by the following equation:
= + + 2 + 2

To find the arc lengths it is known that an arc length is equal to the radius x the measure of the
angle facing the arc. Represented by:
= and =

To find the properties of a triangle can be used that the sum of the angles of any triangle is
equal to 180 or 2. Once is found, then can be used to find as shown:

= 2 [2 ( + )] =
2
= 2 = +
Now that known then it can be plugged into the arc length formula:
= ( + )
= ( + )

To find the straight lengths can be found by trigonometric functions:

( ) =
2

( ) =
2

( ) =
2

( ) =
2

Now these values can be inserted into the original total length formula and then isolating the
angle terms of the formula to one side if the equation.
= + + 2 + 2

= ( + ) + ( + ) + (2 ( )) + (2 ( ))
2
2

= ( + )( + ) + ( + ) (2 )
2

= ( + ) ( + + 2 )
2

= + + 2
+
2

= + 2
+
2

Angle that crosses itself is satisfied by the equation.

+ 2

2 +

(b)Entering the equation from part (a) with =27.78ft, =2.42ft and =1.21ft into a graphing
calculator results in:
+ 2

2 +

+ 2

27.78
=

2 2.42 + 1.21

+ 2

4.5
2

+ 2

4.5 = 0
2

= 4.026326 + 6.277064
= 1.281619 + 1.998052
where is any integer.