Question

A bird is a tree 32 feet off the ground and drops a twig that lands on a rosebush feet below. The function h(t) = - 16t ^ 2 + 32 where represents the time in seconds , h gives the heightin feet of the twig above the ground as it falls. When will the twig land on the bush? The twig will hit the rosebush after about second (s)

Answer 1

Set the equation to equal 0 ( the height is 0 when it hits the bush), then solve for t:

-16t^2 + 32 = 0

Subtract 32 from both sides:

-16t^2 = -32

Divide both sides by -16:

t^2 = 2

Take the square root of both sides:

t =√2

t = 1.414 seconds ( round the answer as needed)