MATH WORD PROBLEM

Question

An object is tossed into the air from the top of a building h feet high. The time it takes for the object to hit the ground is given by the formula 16t^2- 6t - h= 0

 

a) Solve this formula for t.

b) Hoe long does it take for the object to hit the ground if it is tossed from the top of a building 50 feet high? (Round to the nearest whole number)

 

Please show work

Answer 1

(a)

 

Apply the quadratic equation to solve for t.

 

t = {-(-6) ± √[(-6)² - 4(16)(-h)]} / [2(16)]

 

This should give a negative solution and a positive solution.  Discard the "negative time" solution.

 

(b)

 

Plug h = 50 into the formula above and get

 

t = 1.965 or -1.590 s.

 

Keep the positive solution.