SOLUTION: A soccer ball is kicked. Its height (in feet) in the air is modeled by h(x) = -0.0498x^2 + 0.7538x, where x is the horizontal distance (in feet) the ball has traveled since being k

Question 1056879: A soccer ball is kicked. Its height (in feet) in the air is modeled by h(x) = -0.0498x^2 + 0.7538x, where x is the horizontal distance (in feet) the ball has traveled since being kicked. How far does the ball travel before hitting the ground?
What formula should I use?
Is it: -b/2a or - (b^2 - 4ac)/4a or -b + - square root of b^2 - 4ac/ 2a and why?
Thanks a lot

Answer by Boreal(15235) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
h(x) = -0.0498x^2 + 0.7538x
Set it equal to 0.
factor out a -x(0.0498x-0.7538x=0
0.0498x=0.7538
x=15.13 feet
You can use x=(1/2a)(-b+/- sqrt (b^2-4ac)), but in this instance the factoring is easier.

-b/2a gives the x value of the vertex, useful when you want to know the maximum height of the ball.

RELATED QUESTIONS
Jack kicked a soccer ball. The height of the ball, h, in metres, can be modelled by... (answered by josgarithmetic)

A soccer ball was kicked upwards. Its path can be modeled by the relation h=-0.2(d-5.5)^2 (answered by ikleyn)

a soccer ball was kicked from the ground and its height in meters above ground is modeled (answered by mananth)

jessie kicked a soccer ball into the air with an initial upward velocity of 40 feet per... (answered by jim_thompson5910)

A soccer ball is kicked in the air from the stadium. The height, h, in feet, of the ball... (answered by Boreal,MathLover1)

Jane can kick a soccer ball with a path modelled by h=-(x-19)^2+17, where h is the height (answered by ikleyn)

A soccer ball is kicked from the ground, and its height in meters above ground is modeled (answered by TimothyLamb)

A soccer ball is kicked by a goalkeeper. The height of the ball is given by the equation... (answered by jorel555,ikleyn)

The height of a soccer ball that is kicked from the ground can be approximated by the (answered by nerdybill)