Answer:
(1) 256 inches
(2) 5 feet
(3) 400 inches
(4) 10 feet
Step-by-step explanation:
(1) The function that gives the height in inches of the spray of water at a distance x from the sprinkler head is given as follows;
h(x) = 160·x - 16·x²
At x = 2 feet, we have;
h(2) = 160 × 2 - 16 × 2² = 256
Therefore, the height of the spray water at a horizontal distance of 2 feet from the sprinkler head h(2) = 256 inches
(2) The x-coordinate, [tex]x_{max}[/tex], of the maximum point of a parabola given in the form, y = a·x² + b·x + c is found using the following formula;
[tex]x_{max}[/tex] = -b/(2·a)
The x-coordinate, [tex]x_{max}[/tex], of the maximum point of the given equation of the parabola, h(x) = 160·x - 16·x², (a = -16, b = 160) is therefore;
[tex]x_{max}[/tex] = -160/(2 × (-16)) = 5
Therefore, the number of feet along the way, the function will reach maximum height, [tex]x_{max}[/tex] = 5 feet
(3) The function, h(x) = 160·x - 16·x², will reach maximum height, [tex]h_{max}[/tex], at x = 5, therefore;
[tex]h_{max}[/tex] = h(5) = 160 × 5 - 16 × 5² = 400
The maximum height of the spray, [tex]h_{max}[/tex] = 400 inches
(4) The water is at ground level where h(x) = 0, therefore;
At ground level, h(x) = 0 = 160·x - 16·x²
160·x - 16·x² = 0
∴ 16·x × (10 - x) = 0
By zero product rule, we 16·x = 0, or (10 - x) = 0, from which we have;
x = 0, or x = 10
The water is at ground level at x = 0 and x = 10 feet, therefore, the water will hit the ground again (the second time after leaving the sprinkler head at x = 0) at x = 10 feet.
