Bend It Like Beckham
Andre, Juana, Kevin and Emiko go to a soccer day at the L.A. Galaxy's training field at the StubHub Center.
The coach has a computer and video system that can track the height and distance of their kicks. All four soccer players
are practicing up-field kicks, away from the goal.
Andre goes first and takes a kick starting 12 yards out from goal. His kick reaches a maximum height of 17 yards and lands
48 yards from the goal.
Juana goes next and the computer gives the equation of the path of her kick as y=-x+14x-24, where yis the height
of the ball in yards and xis the horizontal distance of the ball from the goal line in yards.
Hoge in yards
After Kevin takes his kick, the coach gives him a printout of the path of the ball:
Finally Emiko takes her kick but the computer has a problem and can only
give her a partial table of data points of the ball's trajectory.
Emiko's table
Distance from the goal line in yards
Height in yards
| 10 | 11 |
0
12
8.75
13
12.2
14
+
15
15-
15
Kevin's Kick
17.2
Distance from the goal line in yards
|
16
18.75
19.7
verten
The computer is still not working but Andre, Juana, Kevin and Emiko want to know who made the best kick.
Who made the best kick? Support your answer with mathematical evidence.
17
18
20
20
19
19.7 18.7