Question

A ball is dropped from a height of 10 meters. Each time it bounces, it reaches 50 percent of its previous height. The total vertical distance the ball has traveled when it hits the ground the fifth time is ______ meters. How many meters is it?

Answer 1

After every drop,the ball bounces to half it's previous height. With that understood.

1st drop -The ball drops 10m

1st bounce - 5m up
2nd drop - 5m down

2nd bounce - 2.5m up
3rd drop - 2.5m down

3rd bounce - 1.25m up
4th drop - 1.25m down

4th bounce - 0.625m up
5th/last drop - 0.625m down

To find the total vertical distance, you add them all.

10+5+5+2.5+2.5+1.25+1.25+0.625+0.625
=29.25m travelled in all.