Mathematics of a basketball jump shot

Math AA SL

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Table of Contents

Introduction 3
Main Idea 3

Brief research 3

Aim 3

Method 4

Conclusion 10

Bibliography 11

Introduction

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Main idea:

Basketball has always been a part of my life. It taught me competitive spirit, discipline

and played a huge part in making me who I am today. In basketball, the most common

mechanic that you have to master before even playing a game is the jump shot. The jump shot

is the shooting technique at which the player shoots the ball towards the basket from jumping

vertically.

Brief research:

To picture a jump shot, the player usually shoots with one hand and the other holds the

ball to a set point before releasing it. The shooting hand’s elbows are tucked under the ball,

fingers are spread evenly to create a bigger surface area which leads to a higher percentage of

making the bucket. The player jumps vertically and releases the ball by flicking the wrist. The

ball travels in a concaving, parabolic shape drawing from the release point of the player and

ending up in the basket. Of course, there will be different factors that will affect the jump shot

like having to shoot contested, the distance of the shooter to the basket or even pressure from

the audience trying to distract you. These factors will affect the percentage of hitting a shot in

a game. That is why looking at videos of professional basketball players shooting in practice,

they just simply don’t miss. But it is a whole different story in a game. This parabolic shape

can be calculated using quadratic equations.

Aim:

In this Internal assessment, I will be finding out what is the best angle that players

should release the ball at to give them the highest possibility to score a free throw in a

basketball game.

Method

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 Quadratic functions when drawn out look like a U shape either concaves or convexes.

In this context, our parabola will concave down words as the peak of the ball reaches the top.

How do we determine if the parabola concaves or convexes? First, we have to understand the

quadratic equation’s formula and what each variable does to affect the parabola. The general

form for quadratic equations is: f(x) = ax2 + bx + c where “a",”b", and “c" are

coefficients that manipulate the variable x and a ≠ 0.

We can find where the parabola concaves using a. If a is positive, the parabola

convexes like the u curve. If “a'' is negative, the parabola concaves like an upside down “u” or

how a basketball travels when someone shoots it. Conclusively, our a for this function will be

negative.

For example, the following equations y = x^2 presenting the parabolas convexing and y = -x^2

are presenting the parabolas concaving

I will be shooting the basketball from the free throw line. Which is exactly 15 feet from

the hoop. We can determine the distance between the release of the ball to the hoop is 15 feet.

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We also have to consider the height of the shooter, let’s say 6 feet tall. And the height of the

rim which is 10 feet tall. I demonstrated this in the graph using the website desmos.com.

Firstly, we know that the ball starts at 6ft, the function intercepts the y-axis at (0,6).

Having the function y = ax2 + bx + c where c is the y-intercept, c = 6. Consequently, our

equation will be y = ax2 + bx + 6. Next, we know that the ball will end up in the hoop at the

point of (15,10). By replacing x = 15 and y = 10, we get the equation 225a + 15b - 4 = 0.

Transforming the equation to have b = (4/15) - 15a. Putting “b” back into the equation, we

have y = ax2 + ((4/15) - 15a)x + 6.

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 To solve this problem, we need to understand the relationship between the variable “a ''

and variable “b”. I put “b” as the dependent variable and “a'' as the independent variable.

Knowing that “a'' is the independent variable, we manipulate the value of “a” to find the final

equation. There are multiple equations that meet the requirement that the 2 points (0,6) and

(15,10) are on the graph. But I will be choosing the function that makes the highest point of the

ball will be about 15 ft tall.

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 As we have established that a < 0, I used desmos to manipulate the value of “a”. I have

decided -0.2 < a < 0. By creating a slider option on desmos, I will find the value of a that

makes the y of the vertex of the function approximately equal to 15. Finally deciding that the

value a = -0.122. From here, we can work backwards to find the value of “b” by plugging the

value of “a” back into b = (4/15) - 15a. We will find that b = 2.097. Giving us the overall

equation of y = -0.122x2 + 2.097x + 6.

To understand the angle of the release when shooting, I have to find the tangent to the

graph at the point of release (0,6). The tangent line is the line that touches the graph only once.

To find the tangent line equation, I must find the derivative of the function. Then plugging x =

0 into the differentiated equation to find the slope of the tangent line equation.

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 A line function’s general form is y = mx + c. The slope m = 2.097. We cannot find c

using the general form so I used the slope-intercept form y - y1 = m(x - x1). We have to find the

tangent line to the graph at point (0,6). By substituting y1 = 6, x1 = 0, m = 2.097 and

simplifying, we are left with the general form line equation of y = 2.097x + 6.

Knowing the tangent line that intercepts the graph -0.122x2 + 2.097x + 6 while touching

the point (0,6). I used an online protractor to measure the angle between the tangent line and

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the line y = 6. The angle of release when shooting the basketball is 57 degrees relative to the

ground.

To test this finding, I experimented on my own free throws during games. I have seen a

clear improvement from 2/8 (25%) from the free throw line in the past game to 5/6 (83.3%)

from the free throw line in my most recent game.

While doing the experiment, I have realized that we have to take into account that

gravity is part of the equation too. Using the SUVAT equation, s = ½at2 + ut. Where “ut” is the

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initial velocity and “a” is the acceleration due to gravity which should also be our original “a”

value. I will not be using this to calculate the final results but to take it into consideration.

Conclusion

Going through the research, we could see that shooting at the free-throw point - 15 feet

away from the basket - with the 57 degree angle could increase the possibility to get the points.

In the future, I can further experiment with finding angles all across the court. The distance and

position of the player can fluctuate the value of the angle. If we step further into the three-point

line, the angle should be steeper. Another factor is the arc. The arc of a jumpshot varies player

to player. I find myself going not too high but not too low, the perfect height the ball should

travel at is around 15 feet.

Basketball is all about shooting with perfect angles. According to the Coach & Athletic

Director, one degree change in angle could go from being a make to missing (”Building the

perfect arc …”).

(“Building the perfect arc …”)

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 Calculating these findings I find helpful in games and I will use this knowledge to win

my own basketball game. Based on this research, I realize that shooting with the 57 degree

angle will give me a higher chance of making the shot and scoring.

Bibliography:

“Building the Perfect Arc in Your Shot: Winning Hoops.” Coach and Athletic Director,
https://coachad.com/articles/building-the-perfect-arc/.

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