SOLUTION: The height h in feet of an object after t seconds is given by the function h = �16t^2 + 40t + 10. How long will it take the object to hit the ground? Round your answer to th

Question 103591: The height h in feet of an object after t seconds is given by the function
h = �16t^2 + 40t + 10.
How long will it take the object to hit the ground? Round your answer to the nearest thousandth

Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
To find when the object will hit the ground, let h=0 and solve for t

Solved by pluggable solver: Quadratic Formula

Let's use the quadratic formula to solve for t:

Starting with the general quadratic

the general solution using the quadratic equation is:

So lets solve ( notice , , and )

Plug in a=-16, b=40, and c=10

Square 40 to get 1600

Multiply to get

Combine like terms in the radicand (everything under the square root)

Simplify the square root (note: If you need help with simplifying the square root, check out this solver)

Multiply 2 and -16 to get -32

So now the expression breaks down into two parts

or

Now break up the fraction

or

Simplify

or

So the solutions are:

or

Since a negative time doesn't make any sense, the only solution is approximately

So it will take about 2.729 seconds for the object to hit the ground
RELATED QUESTIONS
The height h in feet of an object after t seconds is given by the function h = �16t^2... (answered by Alan3354)

The height h in feet of an object after t seconds is given by the function h = -16t^2 + (answered by ikleyn)

The height h in feet of an object after t seconds is given by the function... (answered by jim_thompson5910)

The height h in feet of an object after t seconds is given by the function h = �16t2 +... (answered by stanbon)

The height h in feet of an object after t seconds is given by the function: h = �16t2 + (answered by mananth,josmiceli)

the height h in feet of an object after t seconds is given by the function: h= -16t^2 +... (answered by Alan3354)

The height h in feet of an object after t seconds is given by the function... (answered by hayek)

The height h in feet of an object after t seconds is given by the function h = �16t^2... (answered by ankor@dixie-net.com)

The height h in feet of an object after t seconds is given by the function... (answered by stanbon)