Question

An object is dropped from the top of Pittsburgh's USX Towers, which is 841 feet tall. The

height of the object after t seconds is given by the function h(t) = 841 - 16t?
To the nearest whole number, estimate how many seconds until the object hits the ground.

Answer 1

Explanation:

h(t) = 841 - 16t

[Is this written correctly? The time is usually t^2, not t. I'll solve with the written equation, but check the equation]

The height at ground level is 0, so we want the value of t when h(t) = 0:

0 = 841 - 16t

-16t = -841

t = 53 seconds

One can also graph this formula and find the time to hit the ground at the point the line intersects the x axis (x = 0).

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If the equation should have read h(t) = 841 - 16t^2, solve it as above, setting h(t) = 0.

t = (29/4) seconds

This can also be graphed.