An athlete whose event is the shot put releases the shot. When the shot is released at an angle of 20°, its path can be modeled by the formula
$y = -0.01x^2 + 0.4x + 5.8$
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. Use the formula to answer the questions below.
Use the formula to determine the shot's maximum distance.
The maximum distance is approximately 20 feet.
(Round to the nearest tenth as needed.)
Which graph, (a) or (b), shows the shot's path?
graph (b)
graph (a)