While golfing with friends, you hit the ball from the tee box, then use a tracking device to determine the data of your golf ball as it is in the air. You calculate that your ball reached a maximum height of 35 yards at a distance of 40 yards, before descending. In terms of the context, which key feature would represent the maximum height of the ball?

Question

Option #1: vertex

Option #2: domain

Option #3: intercepts

Answer 1

In the context of your golf ball's trajectory, the key feature that would represent the maximum height of the ball is:

Option #1: vertex

The vertex of a parabolic path (which is how a golf ball's trajectory is modeled) corresponds to the maximum or minimum point of the trajectory. In this case, since the ball reaches a maximum height of 35 yards, the vertex represents that maximum point.