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12-18.

A small rocket is launched from five meters below ground level and reaches a height of meters above the ground after seconds. On the way down it is meters above the ground after seconds.

  1. What are three data points that can represent this situation?

    Each point is (time, height). The first one is .

  2. Sketch a graph of the height of the rocket over time.

    Plot the three points you listed in part (a). Then sketch a parabola through them.

  3. Model the data with a quadratic function.

    Substitute each point into the equation .
    You will have a system of three equations with three unknowns.

  4. When will the rocket hit the ground?

    Using your equation from part (c), let and solve for .
    Note: You should get two answers. Which one is it?

  5. What is an appropriate domain for this situation?

    Look at your graph and the answer to part (d).

  6. When is the rocket below ground?

    Look at your graph and the answer in part (d) that you did not use.