Use mathematics to help the football team. Pairs brainstorm how to approach finding a solution to a problem to help the quarterback complete more passes. By researching and collecting data, the teams derive an equation to represent the projectile motion of the football. Using given running speeds, the groups determine the optimal time to release the football so the receiver catches it.

Concepts

parabolas, quadratic equations, graphing quadratics, quadratic applications, quadratic functions, trajectory, projectile motion

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Additional Tags

math

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Instructional Ideas

• Provide video footage of the school quarterback throwing a football
• Ask the football coach to present the problem and provide any information needed

Classroom Considerations

• Requires the class to be familiar with projectile motion

Pros

• Provides scaffolding questions to guide the task
• Includes a sample benchmark paper

Cons

• None

Common Core

MP4 MP5 HSN-Q.A.2 HSF-IF.B.4 HSF-IF.B.5 HSF-IF.C.7.a HSF-BF.A.1.a