A baseball is thrown with a vertical velocity of 50 ft/s from an initial height of 6 ft. The height h in feet of the baseball can be modeled by h(t) = -16t2 + 50t + 6, where t is the time in seconds since the ball was thrown. It takes the ball approximately _____ seconds to reach its maximum height.

Question

anonymous · Answer

To the nearest foot, what is the maximum height that the ball reaches?

anonymous · Answer

@countonme123

anonymous · Answer

@missMob @Machida

anonymous · Answer

@uri @phi

anonymous · Answer

@Fifciol

phi · Answer

they tell you the height is
$$ h(t) = -16t^2 + 50t + 6 $$

that is the equation of a parabola  with a $ \cap $ shape

phi · Answer

they want to know the time when the ball is at the max height

that means they want to know the coordinates of the vertex

do you know how to find the vertex ?

anonymous · Answer

No..

phi · Answer

this shows how http://www.mathwarehouse.com/geometry/parabola/vertex-of-a-parabola.php

phi · Answer

scroll down to "how to find vertex"

your equation is in standard form
$$  y = a x^2 + b x + c $$
can you match this to your equation ?
$$  y = a x^2 + b x + c  \ h(t)= -16 t^2 +50 t + 6$$

what is a?  what is b?  for your equation ?

phi · Answer

the a is the number in front of the t^2
the b is the number in front of the t
and c is the last number.

once you find a and b,   the  vertex is at t = -b/(2a)

that is a formula that says:  minus the b and then divide by 2 times a

of course you need to know a and b to do that