Final answer:
The expression to represent Gabriel's height above the center of the Ferris wheel (in feet) is h(t) = 1 - 20t + t². This expression is a quadratic equation in terms of time (t).
Step-by-step explanation:
The expression to represent Gabriel's height above the center of the Ferris wheel (in feet) is h(t) = 1 - 20t + t².
This expression is a quadratic equation in terms of time (t). The coefficient of the term t² is 1, the coefficient of the term t is -20, and the constant term is 1. The height above the center of the Ferris wheel can be determined by evaluating this expression for different values of t.
For example, if t = 5 seconds, we substitute it into the expression: h(5) = 1 - 20(5) + (5)² = 1 - 100 + 25 = -74. So, Gabriel's height above the center of the Ferris wheel at that time is -74 feet.