1/4

Journal

Geometry

Points Possible: 20

7.2.4 Journal: The Distance Formula

Name: Kadence Roberts

Date:

Scenario: Who Threw the Baseball Farther?

Instructions:

View the video found on page 1 of this Journal activity.

Using the information provided in the video, answer the questions below.

Show your work for all calculations.

The Students' Conjectures: Tre and Hector are trying to figure out who threw the baseball farther in the

last game.

1. Complete the table to summarize what you know about each player's throw: (2 points: 1 point for each

row of the chart)

Player

Statement

Tre

Hector

The baseball field has the following dimensions:

a) The baseball diamond is 90 feet by 90 feet.

b) The pitcher's mound is 60.5 feet from home base.

c) The horizontal distance from the pitcher's mound to the

right fielder is 95 feet.

Calculate Tre's Throw:

5. Using the distance formula, calculate how far Tre threw the ball. (4 points: 2 points for setup, 1 for

calculation, 1 for the answer).

Hector's Position:

Hector was standing halfway between first and second base, at the grass line. The grass line is 95 feet

from the pitcher's mound.

6. Calculate the coordinates for Hector's position. [Note: We can assume that 95 feet is an

approximately horizontal distance from the pitcher's mound to the grass line.] (2 points: 1 for x, 1 for y)

Hector was standing at the coordinate ( ___ , ___ ).

Calculate Hector's Throw:

7. Using the distance formula, calculate how far Hector threw the ball. (4 points: 2 points for setup, 1 for

calculation, 1 for the answer).

Making a Decision:

8. Who threw the ball farther, and by how much? (1 point)

Outfield exploration:

Tre and Hector want to calculate the maximum possible throw at this field.

They calculate that the farthest point on the field would be the center fielder standing back at the dead

center wall at point (322, 322). Suppose the centerfielder threw the ball from here to home base.

9. How far is this throw? (2 points)