document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1205580>Question 1205580</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> find the vertex using completing the square on the equation<BR>\n" );
document.write( "y=-4.9t^2+51t+1.3\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "you are trying to find the maximum height<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 #842563 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><B>greenestamps(13200)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><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=greenestamps><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=842563\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "For a quadratic equation like this, with \"ugly\" coefficients, the best way to find the maximum height is with a graphing calculator or some other graphing tool.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "I definitely agree with tutor @MathTherapy that using completing the square to find the maximum height with this equation is absurd.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "In theory, completing the square is a useful skill.  But practice for the student in the process of completing the square should be with equations that have \"nice\" coefficients.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Even the task of finding the maximum height using the fact that the x-coordinate of the vertex is -b/2a and plugging that value into the equation to find the y-coordinate of the vertex is extremely awkward with an equation like this one.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Give the student practice finding the vertex by completing the square or by using x=-b/2a using \"nice\" equations; for an equation like this, use a graphing calculator.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The instruction to work this problem by completing the square is absurd.<br><BR>\n" );
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