document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1056879>Question 1056879</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> 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?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "What formula should I use?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Is it: -b/2a   or   - (b^2 - 4ac)/4a   or  -b + - square root of b^2 - 4ac/ 2a  and why?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Thanks a lot\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #671942 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Boreal><B>Boreal(15235)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Boreal><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=Boreal><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=671942\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> h(x) = -0.0498x^2 + 0.7538x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Set it equal to 0.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "factor out a -x(0.0498x-0.7538x=0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "0.0498x=0.7538<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=15.13 feet<BR>\n" );
document.write( "You can use x=(1/2a)(-b+/- sqrt (b^2-4ac)), but in this instance the factoring is easier.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "-b/2a gives the x value of the vertex, useful when you want to know the maximum height of the ball.<BR>\n" );
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