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The distance $s$ in feet that a thrown object will fall in $t$ seconds is given by

$s=16t^2 + vt\;,$

where $v$ is the initial downward velocity in feet/second. Find the initial velocity of an object that falls $80$ feet in $2$ seconds.

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    What have you done? Where are you stuck?2012-11-13

2 Answers 2

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Hint: you have three unknowns in the equation and are provided values for two of them.

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So you have

  • $s =$ distance
  • $v =$ initial velocity
  • $t =$ time.

You have these related via: $ s = 16t^2 + tv. $

Now if the distance $d= 80$ (feet) and the time is $t = 2$ (sec.), you know two of the three variables, so you can solve for the third. I.e., start with $ 80 = 16(2)^2 + 2v. $ This is a (linear) equation with just one unknown that you can solve for.