[cgold1]

This college algebra class is kciking my butt. I am trying to solve an application problem which wants to know how high a rocket will travel at t seconds using
s(t)=-16t^2+96t=32 ft

Here is how I tried to solve it:

= 16(-t^2+6t+2)
= 16(-6+/-sqt 6^2-4*-1*2 ) / 2*-1
= 16(-6 +/- sqt 36-(-8) )/-2
= 16(-6 +/- sqt 44) /-2
= 16(-6 +/- 2 sqt 11) / -2
= 2*16(-3 +/- sqt 11) / -2
= 32(-3 +/- sqt 11) / -2
= -16(-3 +/- sqt 11)

I came up with -16 (-3+/-sqt 11)

Please point me in the right direction... Thank you in advance

[galactus]

You are on the right track. Except, get rid of that 16. It's not really needed.

I assume then you are solving the quadratic for t?





We can complete the square or use the quadratic formula.

Completing the square, we get:



Now, solve for t and we get what you have.