Calculating v from v0, frictional coefficients, and angle

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In a case involving a car accident, the scenario describes car A sliding into car B while stopped at a red light on a 12° slope. The initial speed of car A was 20.0 m/s, and the distance between the cars was 23.0 m. The calculations considered two coefficients of kinetic friction: 0.560 for a dry road and 0.190 for a wet surface. The expert witness initially miscalculated the time and speed of impact but resolved the issue by checking the signs in the equations and using an online quadratic formula calculator. The discussion highlights the importance of careful sign management in physics calculations.
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You testify as an expert witness in a case involving an accident in which car A slid into the rear of car B, which was stopped at a red light along a road headed down a hill. You find that the slope of the hill is θ = 12.0°, that the cars were separated by distance d = 23.0 m when the driver of car A put the car into a slide (it lacked any automatic anti-brake-lock system), and that the speed of car A at the onset of braking was v0 = 20.0 m/s. With what speed did car A hit car B if the coefficient of kinetic friction was (a) 0.560 (dry road surface) and (b) 0.190 (road surface covered with wet leaves)?equations:
Fn=mg
Fk=μkFn
x-xo=vot-(1/2)at^2attempt at solution:
Fn=mgcos12
=(9.8)(cos12)(m)
=9.59m

fk=μkFn
fk-mgsin12=ma
μkgcos12-gsin12=a
(.560)(9.8)(cos12)-(9.8)(sin12)=a
a=3.33

x-xo=vot-(1/2)at^2
23=20t-(1/2)(3.33)t^2
0=-1.665t^2+20t-23

quadratic formula gave -1.288, -10.72

v=vo+at
v=20+(-3.33)(1.05)
v=16.5035

obviously can't have -t so I just plugged in +1.05 into that last equation, but I'm just trying to figure out what I did wrong because this was the wrong answer. Thank you!
 
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Which direction are you taking to be the positive direction along the slope? Do both of your signs for the initial velocity and acceleration (in the x equation) agree with your choice of positive direction?

[EDIT: Never mind, I saw a = 3.33 (positive) but you took care of the sign by inserting a negative in the x formula. Sorry]
 
Are you sure you get negative values for t when you solve the quadratic equation? I get positive values.
 
Oh--you're right! Recalculated with an online quad formula calculator and it worked. Thank you for your help!
 
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