Question

A rocket is fired from the ground. Its height, in feet, is represented by the function h(1) = -168 + 48t, where t(in seconds) represents the amount of time in the air since takeoff. When does the rocket land on the ground?

Answer 1

When the rocket lands on the ground, it will have a height of 0. Make the given equation equal to 0 and solve it for t, this way:

$\begin{gathered} -168+48t=0 \\ 48t=168 \\ t=\frac{168}{48} \\ t=3.5 \end{gathered}$

The answer is 3.5 seconds.