A golfer hits a ball from a starting elevation of 4 feet with a velocity of 70 feet per second down to a green with an elevation
of −5 feet. The number of seconds t it takes the ball to hit the green can be represented by the equation −16t2 + 70t + 4 = −5. How long does it take the ball to land on the green?
It is given that, a golfer hits a ball from a starting elevation of 4 feet with a velocity of 70 feet per second down to a green with an elevation of −5 feet.
The number of seconds t it takes the ball to hit the green can be represented by the equation as follows :
......(1)
We need to find time taken by the ball to land on the green. Solving the quadratic equation (1) we get :
t = -0.125 s and t = 4.5 s
Ignoring t = -0.125 s, we get the time taken by the ball to land on the green is 4.5 seconds.