Awolf leaps out of the bushes and takes a hunter by surprise. its trajectory can be mapped by the equation y = −x2 + 12x − 11, write f(x) in intercept form and find how far the wolf leaped using zeros of the function.

f(x) in intercept form

General equation of intercept form of quadratic equation is

To get intercept form we factor the right hand side of the given equation

Factor out -1

, factor x^2 - 12x +11

 -------> Intercept form

To find zeros of the function, we replace y with 0

then we set each factor =0  and solve for x

0=-1(x-11)(x-1)

x-11 =0  and x-1=0

x= 11  and x=1

Now we subtract the zeros

11-1 = 10

the wolf leaped about 10 meters (units not mentioned in the question)