Question

On Williamston Rd., Mason is driving 24.2 m/s. After spotting a large deer in the road ahead, Mason brakes the car to a complete stop.
If Mason's car takes 35.9 meters to stop, what is the acceleration of the car?
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Here's what I'm getting, but my program that the problem comes from says I'm wrong.

Using Vf^2=Vi^2+2ax, I put 0 for the final velocity, 24.2m/s for the initial velocity, and 35.9m for the distance(x). So I have 0=24.2^2+(2)(a)(35.9), which makes it 0=585.64+71.8a. Then, taking 585.64 from each side, I get -585.64=71.8a and get a=8.16m/s^2.

If you see something I'm doing wrong, please help me fix this.

Answer 1

No,you get a that is negative, and you didn't say that in your answer.

Answer 2

Oh, wow. Talk about a dumb mistake. Thank you bobpursley!!

Answer 3

thanks for showing your work. It is easy to critique work, most kids rely on my crystal ball, which does not always work.