Answer:
The maximum height of 144 feet is reached at 3 seconds. The ball is in the air for 6 seconds.
Step-by-step explanation:
Since the function is a quadratic representing height, and the coefficient of the t² is negative, the vertex of the parabola will be the maximum height achieved by the ball.
The general form for a quadratic equation is ax² + bx + c,
here a is -16, and b is 96
To find the x coordinate of the vertex, use x = -b/(2a)
We have x = -96/[2(-16)]
x = -96/-32
x= 3
So at 3 seconds, the ball reaches it's maximum height
Now plug that into the equation to find the y value, which will be the height...
y = -16(3)² + 96(3)
y = -16(9) + 288
y = -144 + 288
y = 144
To determine how long the ball is in the air, solve the equation for zero,
0 = -16x² + 96x
0 = x² - 6x (divide both sides by -16)
0 = x(x - 6)
x = 0
x - 6 = 0, so x = 6