When a ball is thrown up into the air, it makes the shape of a parabola. The equation S= -16t^2 + v*t + k gives the height of the ball at any time, t in seconds, where “v” is the initial velocity (speed) in ft/sec and “k” is the initial height in feet (as if you were on top of a tower or building).

To calculate the ball's height at any given time, you can use the equation S = -16t^2 + vt + k, where:

- S represents the height of the ball at time "t" (in feet).
- t represents the time elapsed (in seconds).
- v represents the initial velocity of the ball (in feet per second).
- k represents the initial height of the ball (in feet).

To find the height of the ball at a specific time, follow these steps:

1. Plug in the values of v, k, and t into the equation.
2. Square the value of t (multiply it by itself).
3. Multiply the squared value of t by -16.
4. Multiply the initial velocity (v) by t.
5. Add up the results from steps 3 and 4.
6. Add the initial height (k) to the result from step 5.

The final value obtained from step 6 will give you the height of the ball at the given time.

It's important to note that the equation assumes there is no air resistance acting on the ball. Additionally, the equation assumes upwards is positive, so keep that in mind when considering the signs of the velocities and heights.

If you have specific values for v, k, and t, let me know, and I can demonstrate how to calculate the height.