Question

For science class, Shyla has to build a model rocket from a kit. The instructions on the kit include a quadratic function, h(t)=−16t(t−12)of the rocket in feet, with respect to the time, t, the rocket is in the air in seconds. Solve the equation to determine how many seconds it will take for the rocket to reach the ground.

0=−16t(t−12)

Answer 1

Use the zero-product property. Divide both sides by −16 (or set each factor equal to zero):

−16t(t−12)=0 ⇒ t=0 or t−12=0 ⇒ t=12.

t=0 is the launch time, so the rocket returns to the ground after 12 seconds.