The height of a baseball hit from a bat is modeled by a quadratic function of time, h(t). what does the second coordinate of the vertex of the quadratic function represent?

a) the minimum height of the baseball.
b) the time at which the baseball hits the ground.
c) the time at which the baseball hits the maximum height.
d) the maximum height of the baseball

Answer : (d) The maximum height of the baseball.

Explanation :

It is given that, the height of a baseball hit from a bat is modeled by a quadratic function of time. Let the equation is

Let (h,k) be the vertices. So, k is the second coordinate of vertex of the quadratic function.

It is obvious that the baseball will follow a parabolic path after hitting from a bat. So, it is clear that the ball will go to its maximum height and then descends.

The second coordinate of the vertex will be the maximum height of the baseball.

Hence, the correct option is (d).