Question

the graph shows the function that defines the shape of a piece of playground equipment. if both the x - axis and y - axis are measured in feet and the x - axis represents the ground, what is the width of the base of the piece of equipment?
○ 8 ft
○ 10 ft
○ 16 ft
○ 20 ft
(graph with points (0,0), (8,10), (16,0) plotted on a coordinate grid.)

Explanation:

Step1: Identify intersection points

The graph intersects the x - axis at \((0,0)\) and \((16,0)\).

Step2: Calculate the width

The width of the base is the distance between these two x - intercepts. The formula for the distance between two points \((x_1,y_1)\) and \((x_2,y_2)\) on the x - axis (where \(y_1 = y_2=0\)) is \(d=\vert x_2 - x_1\vert\). Here, \(x_1 = 0\) and \(x_2=16\), so \(d=\vert16 - 0\vert=16\) feet.

Answer:

16 ft