SOLUTION: A skydiver jumps from an altitude of 4000 m. Her height above the ground in metres after t seconds is given by the function h = -5t + 4000. She free falls until she is 875 m above

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Question 1106910: A skydiver jumps from an altitude of 4000 m. Her height above the ground in metres after t seconds is given by the function h = -5t + 4000. She free falls until she is 875 m above the ground, then pulls her chute. How many seconds is her free fall? (Solve algebraically, not by graphing please)
Found 2 solutions by addingup, ikleyn:
Answer by addingup(3677) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
-5t + 4000 = h
-5t + 4000 = 4000-875 = 3125
-5t = -875
t = -875/-5 = 175 seconds
Note: this is a heck of a free fall. In real life the free fall lasts less than 60 seconds.

Answer by ikleyn(52884) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
A skydiver jumps from an altitude of 4000 m. Her height above the ground in metres after t seconds is given by the function h = -5t + 4000.
She free falls until she is 875 m above the ground, then pulls her chute. How many seconds is her free fall?
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You  INCORRECTLY  presented your function.

The correct form is h = -5t^2 + 4000,     when the unit of length/distance  the"meter"  is used.

It is the   STANDARD  FORM   for the height   at  FREE  FALL.

To answer the question, you need to solve the quadratic equation


-5*t^2 + 4000 = 875.


====>  5t^2 = 4000-875 = 3125  ====>  t^2 = 3125%2F5 = 625  ====>  t = sqrt%28625%29 = 25.


Answer.  25 seconds.


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Be aware ! The solution by  @addingup  is   I N C O R R E C T  !.