POW 4: Planning the Platforms

Za Barrett

Introduction

Cynthia is collaborating with Kevin, the coach of a baton twirler team, to set up Durango's
annual Fourth of July festivities. Kevin wants a very specific set- small, rectangular platforms
for each performer, arranged like ascending stairsteps, with each platform having the same
difference in height from the one before it. A length of colorful fabric will also hang from the
top of each platform to the ground. See the image below for an example.

Cynthia is building these platforms, and needs to know some things- how high the tallest
platform will be, and the total length of fabric needed for the project. Kevin is an excellent
coach, but also an indecisive perfectionist. He isn't sure which of his twirlers will have their
routine just right when the time comes, and he doesn't even know how many he wants at the
event. The heights of the platforms depend on the height of the performers, so he can't give
Cynthia specifications. Their deadline is looming ever nearer, so Cynthia needs to be able to
run these numbers as soon as Kevin decides.

Our task is to find mathematical formulas for Cynthia that will tell her the height of the
tallest platform and the length of all the fabric, as soon as Kevin decides on the number of
baton twirlers, the height of the shortest platform, and the difference in height between
them.
 Process

The first thing to remember in this problem is the absence of actual numerical values. Since
Kevin doesn't know exactly what he wants yet, we aren't working towards a specific numerical
answer: instead, we are going to end with two formulas that can be used to find the solution
with any set of numbers.
If we are writing mathematical formulas, we first need to know what variables we are
working with. These are the numbers Kevin is deciding on. They include:

- h - the height of the shortest platform

- n- the total number of platforms
- d- difference in height between platforms

First, we can work to find the height of the tallest platform. This is relatively simple. If our
difference in height is d, we just have to remember that each consecutive platform is one d
taller than the one before it. We can multiply this by n, the number of platforms, and add our
beginning height h, to find our answer- the tallest platform.

Height of tallest= h+dn

Except that's not quite right. Our very first platform is just the starting height, but it is still
included in n. Instead, we must say that

Height of tallest= h+d(n-1)

in order to not count the first platform in as well.

Now, it's time to find our second equation: how much fabric is needed for all of them. This is
slightly more complex, as the answer will involve adding the length of all platforms together.

We can try using something called summation notation. This allows us to perform our previous
function however many times are necessary for the number of platforms, n, that Kevin needs.
Below, we have written our equation this way.

𝑛
Length of the platforms= ∑ (ℎ + (𝑖 − 1)𝑑)
𝑖=1

This means that the equation to the right of the summation symbol (Σ) must be performed n
times, each time substituting one number from 1 through n in the place of i.
For instance, if Kevin wanted five platforms, we would have to write it out this way:

(h+(1-1)d) + (h+(2-1)d) + (h+(3-1)d) + (h+ (4-1)d) + (h+(5-1)d

We put in values for h and d and solve from there. This method can get a little tedious, but it
certainly works.

Solution

We find how tall the highest platform is by subtracting one from our total number of
platforms to find the number of times the height increased by d. Then, we add the starting
height to find a complete answer.

Height of tallest= h+d(n-1)

We find how much total fabric we will need by adding together the heights of all platforms.
This can be done through a function that repeats n times for however many platforms we
have- it is written out through summation notation.

𝑛
Length of the platforms= ∑ (ℎ + (𝑖 − 1)𝑑)
𝑖=1

Reflection

If I am being honest, this POW has irked me more than anything I've done for
Precalculus in a long time. It's not entirely due to the content- a large part of my frustration
comes from my situation. There are a few things in my life now that tend to take precedence
over math homework, and I have to push assignments like this to the side more and more.
Sometimes, even when I do have time to work, I find myself losing focus.
Unfortunately, I have not yet reached a level of god-tier omnipotence, so spreading
myself too thin only prevents me from doing anything well. So, instead of trying to apply to
an unrealistic standard, this time I am just going to be honest:
I have seen and written down the closed form of the equation. However, I did not feel
right including it in this POW, because my writeup is meant to represent my understanding of
the problem, and I still do not understand how it works. Instead of spending more time trying
to decipher it, however, I am actually going to do what's more important for my health at this
point and move on. I still uphold our Culture of Excellence in many ways- right now, the best
thing I can do is to tell myself I don't need to do this perfectly as well.

Extension Question

How can we find the total amount of wood Cynthia needs to build the platforms, including all
sides of them?