Calculate Total Fall Time with Kinematic Equations | FreeFall Question

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Homework Statement


A rock is thrown horizontally from a cliff with a speed of 15 m/s. It falls half of the heigh of the cliff in the last three seconds of its fall. What is the total fall time?


Homework Equations



The Kinematic Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


Well here's what I have so far but I don't know what its getting me.
Vi=Initial Velocity
Vo=Halfway Down Cliff Velocity
Vf=Final Velocity
Y=Height of cliff
t=time
Vf+29.4=-9.8t
Y=.5(0+Vo)t
Y=.5(Vo+Vf)3
Y=-4.9t^2
Y=Vo(-88.2)

These were all derived from kinematic equations.
 
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I'd (always) work from the general formula,
[tex]y = -\frac{1}{2} g t^2 + v_0 t + h_0[/tex].

You have one piece of information that you can plug into that formula, to replace the unknown height [itex]h_0[/itex] of the cliff by the falling time [itex]t_f[/itex]. (You know [itex]v_0[/itex], but think before you write it down!) Then the remaining formula only contains the constant [itex]g \approx 9,8[/itex] and the falling time [itex]t_f[/itex] so you can set it to the final height (0) and solve for the latter.