Question 1205580
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For a quadratic equation like this, with "ugly" coefficients, the best way to find the maximum height is with a graphing calculator or some other graphing tool.<br>
I definitely agree with tutor @MathTherapy that using completing the square to find the maximum height with this equation is absurd.<br>
In theory, completing the square is a useful skill.  But practice for the student in the process of completing the square should be with equations that have "nice" coefficients.<br>
Even the task of finding the maximum height using the fact that the x-coordinate of the vertex is -b/2a and plugging that value into the equation to find the y-coordinate of the vertex is extremely awkward with an equation like this one.<br>
Give the student practice finding the vertex by completing the square or by using x=-b/2a using "nice" equations; for an equation like this, use a graphing calculator.<br>
The instruction to work this problem by completing the square is absurd.<br>