SOLUTION: a fastball is hit straight up over home plate. the balls height, H( in feet), from the ground is modeled by the quadratic function defined by H(t)=16^t2+80t+5 where t is measured

Algebra ->  Quadratic Equations and Parabolas -> SOLUTION: a fastball is hit straight up over home plate. the balls height, H( in feet), from the ground is modeled by the quadratic function defined by H(t)=16^t2+80t+5 where t is measured      Log On


   



Question 1149032: a fastball is hit straight up over home plate. the balls height, H( in feet), from the ground is modeled by the quadratic function defined by H(t)=16^t2+80t+5 where t is measured in seconds. at what time did the fastball reach the maximum height? solve algebraically
Answer by ikleyn(52775) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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a fastball is hit straight up over home plate. the balls height, H( in feet), from the ground is modeled
by the quadratic function defined by H(t)=16^t2+80t+5 where t is measured in seconds.
at what time did the fastball reach the maximum height? solve algebraically
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            First, the function  H(t)  in your post is written  INCORRECTLY,  having a  FATAL  error.

            The correct form of this function is  H(t) = -16t^2 + 80t + 5.

            Notice the sign  " - "  (minus)  before  16t^2   (!)

            With the corrected formula,  see my solution below.


The function  H(t) = -16t^2 + 80t + 5  is a quadratic function, whose plot is a parabola opened down.


This quadratic function has the maximum at the value of its argument  t = -b%2F%282a%29, where "a" is the coefficient at t^2

and "b" is the coefficient at t.


In your case, a= -16,  b= 80, so the function gets the maximum at  t = -80%2F%282%2A%28-16%29%29 = 3.5.


So, the fastball gets the maximum height  2.5 seconds after is hit straight up. ANSWER

Solved.

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On finding the maximum/minimum of a quadratic function,  see the lessons
    - HOW TO complete the square to find the minimum/maximum of a quadratic function
    - Briefly on finding the minimum/maximum of a quadratic function
    - HOW TO complete the square to find the vertex of a parabola
    - Briefly on finding the vertex of a parabola
in this site.

On solving similar problems to yours in this post,  see the lessons
    - Problem on a projectile moving vertically up and down
    - Problem on an arrow shot vertically upward
    - Problem on a ball thrown vertically up from the top of a tower
    - Problem on a toy rocket launched vertically up from a tall platform
in this site.