Why Does Graphing and Completing the Square Give Different Maximum Heights?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Markd
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Square
AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around the discrepancy between the maximum height of a ball calculated by completing the square and the height derived from graphing the equation h = -5t^2 + 30t + 1.5. Completing the square indicates that the maximum height occurs at 3 seconds, while graphing suggests it occurs at 6 seconds. Participants question the calculations, particularly the handling of the "-5" factor during the completion process. Ultimately, the graph confirms that the maximum height is 46.5 meters at 3 seconds, while the height at 6 seconds is only 0.5 meters, indicating a misunderstanding in the calculations. This highlights the importance of accurate algebraic manipulation in determining maximum values.
Markd
Messages
14
Reaction score
0
I don't think this is corrent...

Question By completiing the square determine the maximum height of the ball and how long it takes to reach the maximum height

h=-5t^2+30t+1.5

Work:
=t^2-6t+1.5/5
(t^2-6t+9)1.5/-5 + 9
(t-3)^2+43.5/5
That would mean the time of the ball to get to the max height is 3 seconds but when I graph it I get 6 seconds?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
You've completed the square for another function... :confused: Not for the one you initially posted...Where did you put that "-5" you factored.??

Daniel.
 
Markd said:
I don't think this is corrent...

Question By completiing the square determine the maximum height of the ball and how long it takes to reach the maximum height

h=-5t^2+30t+1.5

Work:
=t^2-6t+1.5/5
(t^2-6t+9)1.5/-5 + 9
that should be h/5= (t^2- 6t+9)- 1.5/5+ 9

(t-3)^2+43.5/5
That would mean the time of the ball to get to the max height is 3 seconds but when I graph it I get 6 seconds?

What is h when t= 6?
h(6)= -5(36)+ 30(6)+ 1.5= -31+ 30+ 1.5= -1+ 1.5= 0.5 m. I hardly think that is the maximum height!
What exactly did you graph?

When I graph h= -5t2+ 30t+ 1.5, I get the maximum (h=46.5) at t= 3.
 
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top