A helicopter is h metres above the ground at a time of t seconds. The height of this helicopter during a helicopter ride can be modelled by; h = (-16t^2 + 8t + 48)

Find the time in seconds, for the helicopter to reach the ground.

It will take the chopper 2 seconds to reach the ground

Step-by-step explanation:

When the helicopter reaches the ground, then it is at height zero.

Thus, we equate the modeled equation to zero.

0 = - 16t^2 + 8t + 48

This is same as;

16t^2 - 8t - 48 = 0

We divide through by 8

2t^2 - t - 6 = 0

2t^2 - 4t + 3t - 6 = 0

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

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

2t + 3 = 0 or t - 2 = 0

2t = - 3 or t = 2

t = - 3/2 or t = 2

t = - 1.5 or t = 2

Since time cannot be negative, we select t = 2 and ignore t = - 1.5

Thus, it will take the chopper 2 seconds to reach the ground