Warm Up
A mechanical device is used to launch a potato vertically into the air. The potato is launched from a platform 20 feet above the ground, with an initial vertical velocity of 92 feet per second.
The function models the height of the potato over the ground, in feet, seconds after launch.
Here is the graph representing the function.
For each question, explain your reasoning.
What is the height of the potato 1 second after launch?
Enter the height of the potato 1 second after launch.
Compare your answer:
The height of the potato 1 second after launch will be 96 feet. Substituting 1 second into the function yields:
Will the potato still be in the air 8 seconds after launch?
Compare your answer:
No, from the graph, we can see the potato will land before 8 seconds after the launch.
Will the potato reach 120 feet? If so, when will it happen?
Compare your answer:
Yes, from the graph, we can see the potato’s height will be 120 feet at two times: approximately 1.5 seconds and 4.3 seconds after launch.
When will the potato hit the ground, or have a height of zero feet?
Compare your answer:
We can see from the graph the potato will hit the ground, or have a height of zero feet, after approximately 6 seconds.