Quadratic Equation Applications Trivia

A fountain shoots water in an arc over a lake that can be modeled by the graph of the equation y= -0.4x² + 8x where x is the horizontal distance (in feet) from the fountain base and y is the height (in feet) above the river.  How high does the water go?

• It goes 11.78 feet high

• It goes 20 feet high

• It goes 40 feet high

• It goes 10 feet high

A raft is dropped from a helicopter 256 feet in the air above the ocean.  Its approximate height, h, after t seconds is given by the function h(t) = -16t² + 256.  How many seconds did it take the raft to hit the water? 

• -4

• 2

• 4

• 8

What is the initial (starting) height of an object following this path?  h(t) = -16t² +20t + 6

• -16 feet 

• 0 feet

• 20 feet 

• 6 feet 

A rock is dropped from a bridge 320 ft. above a river. The pathway that the rock takes can be modeled by the equation h = -16t² + 320. How long will it take for the rock to reach the river (i.e. hit the "ground")?

• 2.5 sec

• 3.5 sec

• 4.5 sec

• 3.8 sec

• 22 meters

• 1.89 seconds

• 2 seconds

• 2 meters

• 18 meters

Which answer choice describes  y = -3x² +7x - 2 accurately?

• opens up with a maximum

• opens up with a minimum

• opens down with a maximum

• opens down with a minimum 

240 ft

256 ft

265 ft

230 ft

• 240 ft

• 256 ft

• 265 ft

• 230 ft