Question

An egg is dropped from a height of 36 feet. The quadratic equation d = -t² + 36 provides the distance, d, of the egg, after t seconds. After how many seconds, does the egg hit the ground?

Answer 1

The egg hits the ground after 6 seconds.

Explanation:

Given that an egg dropped from a height of 36 feet, this means the egg was 36 feet away from the ground.

The distance is given as

d = -t² + 36

The egg hits the ground when the distance, d, from the ground is zero.

That is when

-t² + 36 = 0

Or

t² = 36

Taking square roots of both sides

t = ±√36

t = ±6

Since we are dealing with distance, we take the positive value.

So, t = 6 seconds