SOLUTION: The equation h=16t^2 + 112t gives the height of an arrow, shot upward from the ground with an initial velocity of 112ft/s, where t is the time after the arrow leaves the ground. F

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Question 92509: The equation h=16t^2 + 112t gives the height of an arrow, shot upward from the ground with an initial velocity of 112ft/s, where t is the time after the arrow leaves the ground. Find the time it takes for the arrow to reach a height of 180ft.?
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Are you sure that the equation isn't h+=+-16t%5E2+%2B+112t+ (let me know if it is otherwise)

h+=+-16t%5E2+%2B+112t+ Start with the given equation

180+=+-16t%5E2+%2B+112t+ Let h=180

0+=+-16t%5E2+%2B+112t+-180 Subtract 180 from both sides


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


Starting with the general quadratic

at%5E2%2Bbt%2Bc=0

the general solution using the quadratic equation is:

t+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4%2Aa%2Ac+%29%29%2F%282%2Aa%29

So lets solve -16%2At%5E2%2B112%2At-180=0 ( notice a=-16, b=112, and c=-180)

t+=+%28-112+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28112%29%5E2-4%2A-16%2A-180+%29%29%2F%282%2A-16%29 Plug in a=-16, b=112, and c=-180



t+=+%28-112+%2B-+sqrt%28+12544-4%2A-16%2A-180+%29%29%2F%282%2A-16%29 Square 112 to get 12544



t+=+%28-112+%2B-+sqrt%28+12544%2B-11520+%29%29%2F%282%2A-16%29 Multiply -4%2A-180%2A-16 to get -11520



t+=+%28-112+%2B-+sqrt%28+1024+%29%29%2F%282%2A-16%29 Combine like terms in the radicand (everything under the square root)



t+=+%28-112+%2B-+32%29%2F%282%2A-16%29 Simplify the square root (note: If you need help with simplifying the square root, check out this solver)



t+=+%28-112+%2B-+32%29%2F-32 Multiply 2 and -16 to get -32

So now the expression breaks down into two parts

t+=+%28-112+%2B+32%29%2F-32 or t+=+%28-112+-+32%29%2F-32

Lets look at the first part:

x=%28-112+%2B+32%29%2F-32

t=-80%2F-32 Add the terms in the numerator
t=5%2F2 Divide

So one answer is
t=5%2F2



Now lets look at the second part:

x=%28-112+-+32%29%2F-32

t=-144%2F-32 Subtract the terms in the numerator
t=9%2F2 Divide

So another answer is
t=9%2F2

So our solutions are:
t=5%2F2 or t=9%2F2
which are

t=2.5 or t=4.5

in decimal form

So it takes 2.5 seconds to rise to 180 feet. Then it takes 4.5 seconds (elapsed from the beginning) to fall back to 180 feet.