Given that the navy pier ferris wheel in chicago has a circumference of 439.6 ft that is
56% of the circumference of the first ferris wheel built in 1893.
Let x be the circumference of the first ferris wheel, the 56% of x = 439.6
0.56x = 439.6
x = 439.6 / 0.56 = 785 ft
Recall that the circumference of a circle is given by
[tex]C=\pi r^2[/tex]
[tex]785= \pi r^2 \\ \\ r^2= \frac{785}{ \pi } =249.87 \\ \\ r= \sqrt{249.87} =15.8 \ ft[/tex]
Therefore, the radius of the first ferris wheel is 15.8 ft.