Question

explore & reason
the path of a golf ball hit from the ground resembles the shape of a parabola.
a. what point represents the golf ball before it is hit off the ground?
b. what point represents the golf ball when it lands on the ground?
c. look for relationships explain how the points in part a and b are related to the balls distance from the ground.

Explanation:

A. Before being hit, the golf ball is on the ground at the starting point of the parabola, which is the origin where horizontal distance and height are both 0.
B. When landing, the golf ball returns to the ground at the end of the parabola, where height is 0 and horizontal distance is the total range.
C. Both points have a height (distance from ground) of 0, meaning the ball is in contact with the ground at these positions.

Answer:

A. The point $(0, 0)$ (the origin, where the ball starts on the ground with no horizontal distance traveled and 0 height).
B. The point $(x, 0)$ where $x$ is the total horizontal distance the ball travels (the right x-intercept of the parabola, where height returns to 0).
C. Both points have a vertical distance (height) of 0 from the ground, so the golf ball is resting on the ground at both of these positions.