Big Ideas Math Algebra 2, 2014
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Big Ideas Math Algebra 2, 2014 View details
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Exercise 14 Page 151

Begin by finding the axis of symmetry to find the maximum height. For the distance traveled, you should consider the zeros of the equation.

Maximum Hieght: 4.25 feet
Distance: 35.62 feet

Practice makes perfect
The maximum height of the horseshoe will appear on the vertex and the vertex lies on the axis of symmetry. Therefore, we will first find the axis of symmetry using the formula x=- b2 a. y= -0.01x^2+ 0.3x+ 2 In this case, a=-0.01 and b=0.3. Let's substitute them in the formula and find the axis of symmetry.
x=-b/2a
x=-0.3/2( -0.01)
x=-0.3/-0.02
x=0.3/0.02
x=15
Now that we know the axis of symmetry, we can substitute x=15 in the equation and find the maximum height.
y=-0.01x^2+0.3x+2
y=-0.01( 15)^2+0.3( 15)+2
y=-0.01(225)+0.3(15)+2
y=-2.25+4.5+2
y=4.25
Therefore, the maximum height is 4.25 feet. We can find the distance traveled by finding the zeros of the function. To do that we will first substitute y=0 and write the resulting equation in standard form.
y=-0.01x^2+0.3x+2
0=-0.01x^2+0.3x+2
-0.01x^2+0.3x+2=0
0.01x^2-0.3x-2=0
Now that the equation is in standard form, we can solve it by using the Quadratic Formula.
0.01x^2-0.3x-2=0
Solve using the quadratic formula
x=-( -0.3)±sqrt(( -0.3)^2-4( 0.01)( -2))/2( 0.01)
x=-(-0.3)±sqrt((-0.3)^2-(-0.08))/2(0.01)
x=0.3±sqrt((-0.3)^2+0.08)/2(0.01)
x=0.3±sqrt((-0.3)^2+0.08)/0.02
x=0.3±sqrt(0.09+0.08)/0.02
x=0.3±sqrt(0.17)/0.02
x=0.3± 0.41231.../0.02
We can simplify this result into two separate roots.
x=0.3± 0.41231.../0.02
x_1=0.3± 0.41231.../0.02 x_2=0.3± 0.41231.../0.02
x_1≈ -5.62 x_2≈ 35.62

Because x is a measurement, it cannot be negative. Therefore, the distance traveled is 35.62 feet.