To find the maximum height of the rocket, we need to find the vertex of the parabola represented by the equation y = -1/((x+6)(x-18)).
The x-coordinate of the vertex can be found using the formula x = -b/2a, where a = -1, b = 0, and c = 0 (since there are no linear or constant terms in the equation).
So, x = -0/(2(-1)) = 0.
To find the y-coordinate of the vertex, we need to substitute x = 0 into the equation:
y = -1/((0+6)(0-18)) = -1/(-6)(18) = 1/108
Therefore, the maximum height of the rocket is 1/108 metres, or approximately 0.00926 metres or 9.26 millimetres.
Note: It's possible that the equation was meant to be y = -1/((x+6)(x-18)), with a negative sign in front of the whole fraction. In this case, the maximum height would still be 1/108 metres, but with a positive sign.
Determine the maximum height of the rocket
A group of students launches a model rocket from the top of a building. The
students have determined the equation y = − ;
(x+ 6)(x− 18) to describe the
<
height of the rocket above ground level, y, in metres, at any time, x, in seconds.
1 answer