Solution:
Given equation: h = -0.5x² + x + 12
h = 0.5
-0.5x² + x + 12 = 0.5
-0.5x² + x + 11.5 = 0
Find the roots of quadratic equation.
x = ((-b )+- √(b² - 4ac))/2a
= ((-1 )+- √(1² - 4*(-0.5)*(11.5)))/2(1)
= -3.9, 5.9
The distance will not be negative.
Hence, the distance is 5.9.
That number in scientific notation is 1.26 x10^-5. The decimal up front has to be greater than 1, but less than 10. We move the decimal to the left to get that answer 5 times. That is what gets us 1.26 x10^-5.
