Question

A Ferris Wheel is constructed that uses the function h(t) = -50cos(2pi * t/39)+50 to calculate the height of a car above the ground. If riders enter the car at ground level determine the following values:
t=______ =________minutes and t=______=________minutes
Time when the car reaches the maximum height: t=________minutes. Answers should be exact(no reducing). This is a word problem that I have for a take home assignment. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks to all

Answer 1

Look at the first term in the function. What value would give you a result of -1 when you take the cos of it?

Answer 2

The only value that I could come up with that would yield a -1 when I take the cos of it is -900. Cos(-900) = -1.However, I doubt that this is what you were telling me to do.

Answer 3

Take the cosine of pi. That will give you a -1. Since the range of cos is [-1,1] that will give you the max h.

Answer 4

Thank you. I will work on it some more.

Answer 5

\[-50\cos(\pi)+50\]

Is the maximum. Set the cosine's argument to pi, and solve.