Question

Isaiah decides to launch a model rocket to demonstrate parabolic motion. Given x stands for time and y stands for height in feet, find the equation for his rocket if it launches at 5 seconds, lands at 11 seconds, and is at 80 feet after 10 seconds. Explain in one sentence how you created your equation.

Answer 1

The parabolic motion is an illustration of a quadratic function

The equation that models that path of the rocket is y = -16/31x^2 + 256/31x - 880/31

How to model the function?

Given that:

x stands for time and y stands for height in feet

So, we have the following coordinate points

(x,y) = (5,0), (11,0) and (10,80)

A parabolic motion is represented as:

y =ax^2 + bx + c

At (5,0), we have:

25a + 5b + c = 0

c= -25a - 5b

At (11,0), we have:

121a + 11b + c = 0

Substitute c= -25a - 5b

121a + 11b -25a - 5b = 0

Simpify

96a + 6b = 0

At (10,80), we have:

100a + 10b + c = 80

Substitute c= -25a - 5b

100a + 10b - 25a -5b = 80

75a -5b = 80

Divide through by 5

15a -b = 16

Make b the subject

b = 15a + 16

Substitute b = 15a + 16 in 96a + 6b = 0

96a + 6(15a + 16) = 0

Expand

96a + 90a + 96 = 0

This gives

186a = -96

Solve for a

a = -16/31

Recall that:

b = 15a + 16

So, we have:

b = -15 * 16/31 + 16

b =-240/31 + 16

Take LCM

b =(-240 + 31 * 16)/31

[tex]b =256/31

Also, we have:

c= -25a - 5b

This gives

c= 25*16/31 - 5 * 256/31

Take LCM

c= -880/31

Recall that:

y =ax^2 + bx + c

This gives

y = -16/31x^2 + 256/31x - 880/31

Hence, the equation that models that path of the rocket is y = -16/31x^2 + 256/31x - 880/31

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