To begin a football game, a kicker has to kick off. The football follows the path h(x)=−1/30x(x−61)
, where h(x)
is the height of the football and x is the horizontal distance it has traveled in yards. Solve the equation to determine how far the ball will have traveled when it hits the ground.
0=−1/30x(x−61)
To determine how far the ball will have traveled when it hits the ground, we need to find the value of x when h(x) = 0.
0 = -1/30x(x-61)
Since the equation is already in factored form, we can set each factor equal to zero and solve for x.
Setting x = 0, we get:
0 = -1/30(0)(0 - 61)
0 = -1/30(0)
0 = 0
Setting x - 61 = 0, we get:
0 = -1/30(x - 61)
0 = x - 61
Adding 61 to both sides, we get:
61 = x
Therefore, the ball will have traveled 61 yards when it hits the ground.