Answer:
The height of the ball is less than 17 feet for t > 2 seconds.
Explanation:
The height of the ball after t seconds is given by the following equation:
![h(t) = -16t^(2) + 81](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/college/vus9k5ptc3sg56c5p95qy52hpb7m801t7c.png)
For which interval of the time is the height of the ball less than 17 feet
This is t for which:
![h(t) < 17](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/college/z3kl3hks5fi6zvy4h2pydfqub5cy6tumau.png)
So
![-16t^(2) + 81 < 17](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/college/tmsgh3jszinhfbtt2dguxiqzzgss94z4kb.png)
![16t^(2) < -64](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/college/nqittdsi3bhm9d59ruhdpi3k130dgifp06.png)
Multiplying by -1
![16t^(2) > 64](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/college/7l9h6w856xv8kajhq33lgf6ai84rgrzd8p.png)
![t^(2) > (64)/(16)](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/college/n43tax3gvsb0rk915rxqug8m9q2hxve6cp.png)
![t^(2) > 4](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/college/ixu6jibqqu8qm0q14jzt9ub01q1zol8fb0.png)
![t > √(4)](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/college/lgineqknchnn81ifo130qbjduu8gkw9dny.png)
![t > 2](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/college/jnbiy0i59nfxmfe1whyx89vf7taev09yvg.png)
The height of the ball is less than 17 feet for t > 2 seconds.