Final answer:
To find the height of the football after 1.2 seconds, we substitute t with 1.2 in the polynomial −16t2 + 32t + 3, simplifying to 18.36 feet, which corresponds to answer option C.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student asked to find the height of a kicked football after 1.2 seconds, with the height given by the polynomial −16t2 + 32t + 3, where t is the time in seconds. To solve for the height after 1.2 seconds, we substitute t with 1.2 in the polynomial, which gives us:
−16(1.2)2 + 32(1.2) + 3
Calculating this gives:
−16(1.44) + 38.4 + 3
−23.04 + 38.4 + 3
15.36 + 3
18.36 feet.
Therefore, after 1.2 seconds, the height of the football is 18.36 feet, making the correct answer option C.