Final answer:
In the context of Cole's bike ride represented by the function d=4.5h^2, the y-intercept relates to the starting distance from home, but as the function does not include a constant term, it indicates the starting distance is 0. None of the multiple-choice options provided correctly state this.
Step-by-step explanation:
The y-intercept of a function can describe the starting point or initial condition of the situation being modeled. In the context of Cole's bike ride, the function d=4.5h^2, with d representing distance and h representing hours, the y-intercept would be the value of d when h is zero, that is, the starting distance from home when the bike ride begins. Looking at the choices provided, the only option that could represent the y-intercept is (b) Cole begins his ride 2 miles from his home, implying that the graph would intercept the y-axis at d = 2. However, given that the function does not have an explicit y-intercept term, and instead has the y-intercept implicitly as zero, none of the choices correctly identify the meaning of the y-intercept for this specific function.