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Santa Claus loves to drop presents out of his sled during Christmas. The height above the ground of one present after t seconds was given by the function h(t) = -16t^2 - 20t + 800. Determine when the present was 300 feet above the ground. Determine how many seconds passed before the present hit the ground.

Answer :

Answer:

The present was 300 feet above ground 5 seconds after being thrown.

6.47 seconds passed before the present hit the ground.

Step-by-step explanation:

We have the following quadratic function

[tex]h(t) = -16t^{2} - 20t + 800[/tex]

Which determines the height of the present.

Determine when the present was 300 feet above the ground.

This is when [tex]h(t) = 300[/tex]. So

[tex]h(t) = -16t^{2} - 20t + 800[/tex]

[tex]300 = -16t^{2} - 20t + 800[/tex]

[tex] -16t^{2} - 20t + 500 = 0[/tex]

This is [tex]t = -6.25[/tex] and [tex]t = 5[/tex]. There are no negative time instants. So the present was 300 feet above ground 5 seconds after being thrown.

Determine how many seconds passed before the present hit the ground.

This is t when [tex]h(t) = 0[/tex]

[tex]h(t) = -16t^{2} - 20t + 800[/tex]

[tex]-16t^{2} - 20t + 800 = 0[/tex]

[tex]t = 6.47[/tex]

6.47 seconds passed before the present hit the ground.

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