Solving Practical Problems Involving Quadratic Equations

A girl getting ready to launch a javelin.

Everyday Connections IconProjectiles are a vital component of many sports, including basketball, soccer, and track and field. A projectile is an object designed to be thrown or launched. In some sports, the projectile is a ball, such as in basketball and soccer. In other sports, however, the projectile many be a different object, such as the javelin or the shot in track and field. Quadratic equations can be used to model the motion of projectiles and determine the heights of these objects at specified times. Continue on to learn more about how quadratic equations can be used to solve problems involving projectile motion.