Solution:
Given that the stone is thrown vertically upwards from a platform that is 20 feet above the ground at a rate of 8 feet per seconds, using a projectile formula:

To calculate the maximum height and the time it takes to reach this height,
step 1: Take the derivative of h with respect to t.
Thus,

step 2: Determine the critical point of the function (equation 1).
At the critical point, h' equals zero.
Thus,

step 3: Determine the extreme point of the function.
To determine the extreme point of the function, we take the second derivative of the function.


Since, the second derivative obtained is negative (less than zero), we have a maximum point.
Thus, the stone reaches the maximum height after 2.4 seconds.
step 4: Evaluate the maximum height reached by the stone.
To evaluate the maximum height reached by the stone, substitute the value of 2.5 for t in equation 1.
Thus, from equation 1,
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