From the basic equation for parabolas y=kx2, consider the parabolas AB, BCD, an

2
c1 = k 1 a 1 and c2 = k 2 a 2 2 (1)
Letting B 1 = b1 - b2 and B 2 = b3 - b2
2
Then (B1 - c1) = k (X-a
and1 ) (B 2 - c2) = k (L-X-a2)2 (2)
The slope =dy/dx and the parabolas are tangential at B and D

but

(3)

From Equations (1) and (3) :

c1 = -k(X - and
a 1)a1 c2 = -k(L - X -a 2)a2
From Equation (2)
B1 + k(X - a 1)a1 = k(X-a 1)2
andB2 + k(L - X -a 2) = (L - X -a2)2

These combine to give the quadratic :

l X2 + mX + n = 0
where l = (b3 - b1)
m = (2L - a 2)(b1 - b2) - a 1(b3 - b2)
andn = -(b1 - b2)(L -a 2)L

with the solution : If l = 0 then X = -n/m

Then c1 = (b1 -b2)a1/Xand c2 = (b3 - b2)a2/(L - X)

The drape is given by: