Final answer:
The quadratic function h(t) = -16t^2 + 14t + 5 represents the height of a ball tossed into the air. We can find the time it takes for the ball to reach a certain height by setting the equation equal to that height and solving for t.
Step-by-step explanation:
The quadratic function h(t) = -16t2 + 14t + 5 represents the height of a ball tossed into the air. The equation gives the height of the ball at any given time after it is tossed. We can find the time it takes for the ball to reach a certain height by setting the equation equal to that height and solving for t.
To find the time it takes for the ball to reach a height of 10 feet, we set h(t) = 10 and solve the equation: -16t2 + 14t + 5 = 10. Rearranging the equation, we get -16t2 + 14t - 5 = 0. We can solve this quadratic equation using the quadratic formula.
Using the quadratic formula, we find that the two solutions are t = 0.54 s and t = 3.79 s. Since the ball is at a height of 10 feet at two times during its trajectory - once on the way up and once on the way down - we take the longer solution, t = 3.79 s, as the time it takes for the ball to reach the height of 10 feet.