document.write( "Question 280869: A rubber ball dropped on a hard surface takes a sequence of vertical bounces. Each bounce is 1/5 as high as the preceding one. If this ball is dropped from a height of 10 feet, What is the total distance it has traveled when it hits the surface the fifth time? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #204651 by Edwin McCravy(20056)\"\" \"About 
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A rubber ball dropped on a hard surface takes a sequence of vertical bounces. Each bounce is 1/5 as high as the preceding one. If this ball is dropped from a height of 10 feet, What is the total distance it has traveled when it hits the surface the fifth time?
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document.write( "It will be easier if we change \"1%2F5\" to the decimal 0.2\r\n" );
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document.write( "1. It falls 10 feet hitting the hard surface the first time.  \r\n" );
document.write( "That's 10 feet it has traveled when it hits the hard surface the first time.\r\n" );
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document.write( "2. It then bounces up 0.2 times 10, or 2 feet, and then falls 2 feet.\r\n" );
document.write( "That's 4 more feet it has traveled, or a total of 10+4 or 14 feet when it hits\r\n" );
document.write( "the hard surface the second time.\r\n" );
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document.write( "3. It then bounces up 0.2 times 2, or 0.4 ft, and then falls 0.4 ft.  That's \r\n" );
document.write( "0.8 ft more it has traveled, or a total of 14.8 feet when it hits the hard\r\n" );
document.write( "surface the third time.\r\n" );
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document.write( "4. It then bounces up 0.2 times 0.4, or 0.08 ft, and then falls 0.08 ft.\r\n" );
document.write( "That's 0.16 ft more it has traveled, or a total of 14.96 feet when it hits the\r\n" );
document.write( "hard surface the fourth time.\r\n" );
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document.write( "5. It then bounces up 0.2 times 0.08, or 0.016 ft, and then falls 0.016 ft.\r\n" );
document.write( "That's 0.032 ft more it has traveled, or a total of 14.992 feet when it hits\r\n" );
document.write( "the hard surface the fifth time.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Answer: 14.992 feet.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Edwin
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