A water balloon is thrown out of a window 96 feet above the ground. The balloon is traveling downward at 16 feet per second initially. If h is the balloon’s height in feet after t seconds, then h = -16t2 -16t + 96,

It will take the balloon seconds to hit the ground.

3 seconds.

Step-by-step explanation:

Since we are figuring out when the water balloon will hit the ground, y will need to be equal to 0.

0 = - 16t² - 16t + 96

Now we simply factor the trinomial to find t.

0 = -16(t² - t - 6)

0 = (t - 3)(t + 2)

t - 3 = 0 ⇒ t = 3

t + 2 = 0 ⇒ t = -2

Since we are referring to time, we need to use the positive value. Therefore, the water balloon will take 3 seconds to hit the ground.

b. astronomers