Homework Help: Problem Involving The Conservation Of Energy

I have another problem I need some help with.

Here's the problem :

A 51.1 kg child slides down a water slide with a velocity of 0.9 m/sec at the top. At the bottom of the slide, she is moving horizontally, y=2.5 meters above the water. She splashes into the water d=3 meters to the left of the bottom of the slide.
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a) Assuming potential energy to be zero at the water level, what is the mechanical energy of the child at the top of the slide?
MEo= J
1704 J
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b) How high is the top of the slide above the bottom of the slide?

As shown I was able to find out the mechanical energy of the child at the top of the slide (1704J) but I can't seem to figure out how to solve for the height of the slide.

I would have thought that you just set KE + PE = 1704 and solve for h, which I did and got 3.36m, but it isn't the right answer :(

So I did .5(51.1kg)(.9m/s)^2 + 51.1kg(9.81m/s^2)h = 1704J

I'm stumped as I don't see any other way of solved for the height. Any help would be appriciated. :)

 

Well it's not really asking for the total height is it? Just the height of the top of the slide to the end of it no? I tried adding 3.36m to the 2.5m above water just to see if I misread the question, but it was still wrong.

 

OMG I'm so dumb! Thank you lol

I kept thinking that what I was solving for was h, rather than h + the additional height.

Thanks so much! I've been working on this problem forever!