A baseball is hit so that its height above ground is given by the equation h=-16^2+96t+4, where h is the height in feet and t is the time in seconds after it is hit. Show your work.
a. How long does it take the baseball to reach its highest point?
b. How high will it go?
This formula describes a parabola. The highest point will be at its vertex.
The x-value of the vertex of the parabola y = ax2 + bx + c is: x = -b/(2a)
For the equation: h = -16t2 + 96 t + 4, the values of a, b, and c, are: a = -16, b = 96, and c = 4.
t = -b/(2a) = -96/(2·-16) = -96/-32 = 3
---> So, it takes 3 seconds to get to its highest point.
To find how high it goes, substitute 3 back into the original equation: h = -16(3)2 + 96 (3) + 4 = 148 feet.
This formula describes a parabola. The highest point will be at its vertex.
The x-value of the vertex of the parabola y = ax2 + bx + c is: x = -b/(2a)
For the equation: h = -16t2 + 96 t + 4, the values of a, b, and c, are: a = -16, b = 96, and c = 4.
t = -b/(2a) = -96/(2·-16) = -96/-32 = 3
---> So, it takes 3 seconds to get to its highest point.
To find how high it goes, substitute 3 back into the original equation: h = -16(3)2 + 96 (3) + 4 = 148 feet.