i need help with a math word problem

Question

At the end of the school year, Rachel and Amber go to the roof of a 12-story building and throw their Algebra book of the edge. The equation of the pathway that each girl’s textbook takes is given below. By how many seconds does Rachel’s textbook beat Amber’s to the ground?

Rachel: h=-16t^2+36t+160

Amber: h=-16t^2+50t+160

i need help with this problem and i’d appreciate it if you guys can help me :)

Answer 1

When the book hits the ground, h = 0. So, set each equation to zero, solve the quadratic equation & subtract the times from each.

the first equation has positive root = 4.481

the second equation has positive root = 5.090

the difference is .61 seconds !