SOLUTION: Students are having a gum spitting contest, and one student observes the gum follow a parabolic curve according to the equation -16x^2 +48x+4. What is the highest point the gum wad

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Question 65460: Students are having a gum spitting contest, and one student observes the gum follow a parabolic curve according to the equation -16x^2 +48x+4. What is the highest point the gum wad reaches and after how much time?
After how many seconds will the gum wad hit the ground?

Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
equation h(x)= -16x^2 +48x+4. What is the highest point the gum wad reaches and after how much time?
High point at x=-b/2a=-48/(-32)=3/2
h(3/2)=-16(3/2)^2+48(3/2)+4
h(3/2)=-16(9/4)+72+4
h(3/2)=-36+76=40
The highest point is 40 ft.; the time is 1.5 seconds
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After how many seconds will the gum wad hit the ground?
When it hits the ground the height will be zero.
-16x^2+48x+4=0
Divide thru by 4 to get:
-4x^2+12x+1=0
x=[-12+-sqrt(144-4*-4**1]/-8
x=[-12+-sqrt160]/-8
x=[-12+4sqrt10]/-8 or x=[-12-4sqrt10]/-8
x=negative or x=[-24.649...]/-8=3.08 seconds
Cheers,
Stan H.