Modeling with Systems Answers

Two boats depart from a port located at (–8, 1) in a coordinate system measured in kilometers and travel in a positive x-direction. The first boat follows a path that can be modeled by a quadratic function with a vertex at (1, 10), whereas the second boat follows a path that can be modeled by a quadratic function with a vertex at (0, –7). Which system of equations can be used to determine whether the paths of the boats cross?

A rectangular swimming pool has a perimeter of 96 ft. The area of the pool is 504 ft2. Which system of equations models this situation correctly, where l is the length of the pool in feet and w is the width of the pool in feet?

The first equation in the system models the height in feet, h, of a falling baseball as a function of time, t. The second equation models the height in feet, h, of the glove of a player leaping up to catch the ball as a function of time, t. Which statement describes the situation modeled by this system?

A radio tower is located on a coordinate system measured in miles. The range of a signal in a particular direction is modeled by a quadratic function where the boundary of the signal starts at the vertex at (4, 2). It passes through the point (5, 4). A linear road connects points (–3, 7) and (8, 2). Which system of equations can be used to determine whether the road intersects the boundary of the tower’s signal?

A company plans to sell a new type of vacuum cleaner for $280 each. The company’s financial planner estimates that the cost, y, of manufacturing the vacuum cleaners is a quadratic function with a y-intercept of 11,000 and a vertex of (500, 24,000). Which system of equations can be used to determine how many vacuums must be sold for the company to make a profit?

A coordinate grid is mapped on a video game screen, with the origin in the lower-left corner. A game designer programs a helicopter to follow a path that can be modeled by a quadratic function with a vertex at (16, 20) and passing through the point (4, 25). She also programs an airplane to move along a linear path that passes through the points (0, 18) and (30, 20). Which system of equations can be used to determine whether the paths of the helicopter and airplane cross?

Hector needs 84 feet of fencing to enclose his rectangular garden. The length of his garden is 12 feet less than twice its width. What is the width of his garden?

The first equation in the system models the height, h, of a falling volleyball as a function of time, t. The second equation models the height, h, of the hands of a player jumping up to spike the ball as a function of time, t. Which statement describes the situation modeled by this system?

The width of a rectangular field is 20 feet less than its length. The area of the field is 12,000 ft2. What is the length of the field?

Graham and Hunter are circus performers. A cable lifts Graham into the air at a constant speed of 1.5 ft/s. When Graham’s arms are 18 ft above the ground, Hunter, who is standing directly underneath Graham, throws Graham a ball as the cable continues to lift him higher. Hunter throws the ball from a position 5 ft above the ground with an initial velocity of 24 ft/s. Which system of equations can be used to model this situation?