Let us suppose that one of the fireworks is launched from the top of the building with an initial upward velocity of 125 ft/sec (correct velocity) and the building has a height of 40 feet. When, in seconds s, will the firework land if it does not explode? Give answer to a tenth of a decimal (ex: 12.7 sec)

h(t) = -16t^2 + 125t + 40
solve using quadratic formula

1 answer

To find the time when the firework lands, we need to determine when the height of the firework is equal to zero. We can set the equation h(t) = 0 and solve for t using the quadratic formula.

The equation is given by:
h(t) = -16t^2 + 125t + 40

Setting h(t) = 0:
-16t^2 + 125t + 40 = 0

Using the quadratic formula:
t = (-b ± √(b^2 - 4ac)) / (2a)

In this equation:
a = -16
b = 125
c = 40

Plugging these values into the quadratic formula, we get:
t = (-125 ± √(125^2 - 4*(-16)*40)) / (2*(-16))

Simplifying:
t = (-125 ± √(15625 + 2560)) / (-32)
t = (-125 ± √(18185)) / (-32)

Calculating the square root and simplifying further:
t = (-125 ± 134.91) / (-32)

Using both the positive and negative values, we have two possible times:
t1 = (-125 + 134.91) / (-32) ≈ 0.294 seconds
t2 = (-125 - 134.91) / (-32) ≈ -7.169 seconds

Since time cannot be negative in this context, the firework will land approximately 0.294 seconds after being launched.