To determine how far the ball will have traveled when it hits the ground, we need to solve the equation:
\[ 0 = -\frac{1}{30}x(x - 61) \]
This equation is set to zero because we're interested in the height \( h(x) \) of the football being zero, which is when it hits the ground.
First, we can set the equation equal to zero and factor it:
\[ -\frac{1}{30}x(x - 61) = 0 \]
For this product to equal zero, either factor must be zero:
- \( x = 0 \)
- \( x - 61 = 0 \) → \( x = 61 \)
So the possible solutions for \( x \) are:
- \( x = 0 \) (the starting point of the kick)
- \( x = 61 \) (the point where the ball hits the ground)
The ball will have traveled 61 yards before hitting the ground.
Therefore, the answer is:
61 yards.