In Exercises 137138, an athlete whose event is the shot put releases the shot with the same

Question:

In Exercises 137–138, an athlete whose event is the shot put releases the shot with the same initial velocity, but at different angles.

When the shot is released at an angle of 65°, its path can be modeled by the formula

in which x is the shot’s horizontal distance, in feet, and y is its height, in feet. This formula is shown by one of the graphs, (a) or (b), in the figure in Exercise 137. Use the formula to determine the shot’s maximum distance. Use a calculator and round to the nearest tenth of a foot. Which graph, (a) or (b), shows the shot’s path?

Throwing events in track and field include the shot put, the discus throw, the hammer throw, and the javelin throw. The distance that an athlete can achieve depends on the initial velocity of the object thrown and the angle above the horizontal at which the object leaves the hand.