The distance an object falls when dropped from a tower varies directly as the square of the time it falls. If the object falls 144 feet in 3 seconds, how far will it fall in 17 seconds?
Direct variation:
\(y=kx^2\)
y - the distance, x - the time
The object falls 144 feet in 3 seconds.
\(144=k \times 3^2 \\
144=9k \\
k=\frac{144}{9} \\
k=16 \\ \Downarrow \\ y=16x^2\)
The object falls y feet in 17 seconds.
\(y=16 \times 17^2 \\
y=16 \times 289 \\
y=4624\)
In 17 seconds the object will fall 4624 feet.
Question
This is a relatively close question, and I have tried multiple times. Can you help?
The distance an object falls when dropped from a tower varies directly as the square of the time it falls. If the object falls 144 feet in 3 seconds, how far will it fall in 18 seconds?
Answer: The one below is correct.