3.7.

5
  Practice: Modeling: Pumpkin Launch Practice
Algebra II Sem 1 Name:  
Date:  

Use the questions below to keep track of key concepts from this lesson's study
activity.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT: Splatapults Away!

The engineering club has built a catapult and wants to test it out. The local
supermarket has donated some overripe fruits and vegetables, and now the club is
holding a Splatapult challenge to see who can hit the most targets. The catapult can
launch food pretty far and make a real mess! In order to hit a target and win the
Splatapult challenge, you'll need to aim the catapult just right. Use the Graphing Tool
and your knowledge of quadratic functions to help you model the flight paths of the
different projectiles and hit the target.

Organize your information

1. Which fruit or vegetable did you select? List the information you know about its
path.
(2 points: 1 point for the selection, 1 point for the values)

I chose a pumpkin. It has to travel 50 feet to hit the target and have a max height of 62 feet

2. Your fruit or vegetable will follow a parabolic path, where x is the horizontal
distance it travels (feet), and y is the vertical distance (feet).

a) The x-intercepts are the places where your fruit or vegetable is on the ground.
The first x-intercept is (0, 0).
The second x-intercept is where the fruit or vegetable hits the ground after it's
launched.

3.7.5 Practice: Modeling: Pumpkin Launch 1/5

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 What are the coordinates of the second x-intercept? (2 points: 1 point for each
coordinate)

(50,0)

b) Which point on the parabola shows the maximum height of your fruit or
vegetable? (1 point)

the y-value of the vertex

c) The x-coordinate of the vertex is halfway between the x-coordinates of the

endpoints. The y-value of the vertex is the maximum height of the fruit or
vegetable. What are the coordinates of the vertex? (2 points: 1 point for each
coordinate)

50+0 = 50 vertex is (25,62)

50/2 = 25

3. Use the information above to sketch the flight path of your projectile. (2 points)

3.7.5 Practice: Modeling: Pumpkin Launch 2/5

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 (25,62)

(0,0)
(50,0)
4. Label the x-intercepts and vertex on your sketch. (3 points: 1 point for each correct
point)

Writing the equation

Complete questions 5 – 8 to write a quadratic equation for the parabola.

5. Using the coordinates of the x-intercepts, what are the two roots of your quadratic
equation? (1 point: ½ point for each root)

Hint: The roots are the same as the zeros (the x-values of the x-intercepts).

0
r1 = _____               50
r2 = _____

6. Substitute the roots from question 5 into the equation y = a(x – r1)(x – r2).
(2 points)
y = a(x - 0)(x - 50)

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7. Substitute the coordinates of the vertex for x and y in the equation from question
6. Solve the equation for a. (2 points)

62 = a(25 - 0)(25 - 50)

62 = a(25)(-25)
62 = -625a
-625 -625
-0.0922 = a
-0.1 = a

8. Using the value of a from question 7, write the quadratic equation in the form
y = a(x – r1)(x – r2). (1 point)

y = -0.1x(x - 50)

9. Using the distributive property, multiply the equation in question 8 to get the
quadratic equation in the form y = ax2 + bx. (1 point)

y = -0.1x^2 - 5x

10. Use the Graphing Tool to create a parabola with your vertex and x-intercepts.

To use the graphing tool, first zoom out to get the scale you want.

Select the parabola, "U", button.

The click the point that you want as the vertex.

Then click the origin (0, 0).

3.7.5 Practice: Modeling: Pumpkin Launch 4/5

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The Graphing Tool will give you an equation for the function you have created. This
equation should be close to the equation from question 8. Write the equation here: (1
point)

y = -0.1x^2 + 4.96x

BULL'S-EYE!
Well done!

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Apex Learning Inc.

3.7.5 Practice: Modeling: Pumpkin Launch 5/5

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