WOLFRAM ALPHA: To Solve a Quadratic Equation

SETUP
When a ball is dropped from the top of a 45m building, the height of the ball after x seconds is (45-5x2)m. How long does it take the ball to reach the ground?

BALL

NOTATION
X=time(seconds) F(x)=height=45-5x2 What to find: time when the height=0 = x that makes 45-5x2=0

WOLFRAM ALPHA

The x that makes 45-5x2=0 are 3. Since x0, x=3 seconds

CHECK
Plug in 3 for x: f(3)=45-5(3) 2 =45-5(9) =45-45 =0 Thus, x=3 seconds.