Answer:
The outfielder must throw the ball 125 feet to return it to the pitcher.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is given that On a softball field, home plate is 43 feet from the pitcher’s mound. A ball is hit at an angle of 27° east of the pitcher’s mound. The ball travels 162 feet before it is caught by an outfielder.
Now, applying the law of cosines,
[tex]a^2=b^2+c^2-2bccosA[/tex],
Putting b=43, c=162 and A=27°, we have
[tex]a^2=(43)^2+(162)^2-2(43)(162)cos27^{\circ}[/tex]
[tex]a^2=1849+26244-12413.4[/tex]
[tex]a^2=15679.6[/tex]
[tex]a=125.21[/tex]
[tex]a[/tex]≈[tex]125 feet[/tex]
Thus, the outfielder must throw the ball 125 feet to return it to the pitcher.
