salmon_run.mws

The Annual Salmon Run

Copyright 2001
Department of Mathematics
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

W. R. Alford

Carol W. Penney
Salmon swimming upstream to spawn in the Snake River encounter many obstacles.  In one particular 30-foot stretch the river rises about 15 feet.  Fortunately for the salmon we have constructed a fish ladder to help the salmon on their perilous journey.  This ladder is 20 feet wide, with vertical sides, and its cross-section is in the shape of the graph of the function f(x) = 8*x/sqrt(10+x^2)-(k+75)/(8+(x-4)^2)-45/(8+(x-12)^2)+8 ,  where  k  is the number of letters in your last name.

Plot the graph of this function, display the ladder, and determine the amount of water that fills the pools in which the salmon rest on their annual run up this cascade. You can use the command in the Tools section below to create a 3-dimensional view of this ladder.

Tools for this Project

You know all of the commands that you will need for this project.   For a nice picture of the fish ladder, you can use this:

>    with(plots):

>    plot3d(f(x),x=-30..40,y=-10..10,orientation=[-100,75],
 lightmodel=light2,grid=[50,2],axes=normal);

The Most Common Maple Commands

Academic Honesty Statement:

Place the following statement (by copying and pasting) at the end of your report and sign it in ink.  Your instructor will not grade your report unless this signed statement appears at the end of your report.

I understand that I may work with others if I give them credit in this statement.  I also understand that I am required to write my report--that to copy all or part of someone else's report or to allow someone else to copy all or part of my report constitutes plagiarism, which is a serious violation of academic honesty.

I worked with (replace this parenthetical remark with first and last names of those with whom you worked)  on this project.  I wrote my own report.  I did not copy any of this report from anyone else and I did not allow anyone else to copy any of this report.

Signed: