SOLUTION: A toy rocket is shot vertically into the air from a launching pad 9 feet above the ground with an initial velocity of 64 feet per second. The height​ h, in​ feet, of the rocke

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Question 1166876: A toy rocket is shot vertically into the air from a launching pad 9 feet above the ground with an initial velocity of 64 feet per second. The height​ h, in​ feet, of the rocket above the ground at t seconds after launch is given by the function h(t)= -16t^+64t+9. How long will it take the rocket to reach its maximum​ height? What is the maximum​ height?

Answer by ikleyn(52775) About Me  (Show Source):
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A toy rocket is shot vertically into the air from a launching pad 9 feet above the ground with an initial velocity
of 64 feet per second. The height​ h, in​ feet, of the rocket above the ground at t seconds after launch is given by the
function h(t)= -16t^+64t+9. How long will it take the rocket to reach its maximum​ height? What is the maximum​ height?
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The function  H(t) = -16t^2 + 64t + 9  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= 64, so the function gets the maximum at  t = -64%2F%282%2A%28-16%29%29 = 2 seconds.


So, the ball gets the maximum height  2 seconds after is hit straight up. 


The maximum height is  H(t) = -16*2^2 + 64*2 + 9 =  73 ft.       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.