Solving Word Problems

involving Polynomial
Functions
Problem 1:
An object is thrown upward from a height of 80 ft. The initial
velocity of the object is 64 ft per second. If the height (h) in feet
is 𝒉 = −𝟏𝟔𝒕𝟐 + 𝟔𝟒𝒕 + 𝟖𝟎, where t is time in seconds, when will
the object reach the ground?
Answer Key:

Solution:
𝒉 = −𝟏𝟔𝒕𝟐 + 𝟔𝟒𝒕 + 𝟖𝟎 𝟎 = (𝒕 − 𝟓)(𝒕 + 𝟏)
0 −𝟏𝟔𝒕𝟐 𝟔𝟒𝒕 𝟖𝟎 𝒕−𝟓=𝟎 𝒕+𝟏=𝟎
= + +
𝟏𝟔 −𝟏𝟔 (−𝟏𝟔) (−𝟏𝟔) 𝒕=𝟓 𝒕 = −𝟏
𝟎 = 𝒕𝟐 − 𝟒𝒕 − 𝟓
𝟎 = (𝒕 − 𝟓)(𝒕 + 𝟏) The object reach the ground in 5
seconds.
Problem 2:
The average cost (in pesos) of producing a particular kind of
plastic bottle is given by 𝒚 = −𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟓𝒙𝟒 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟏𝟓𝒙𝟑 +
𝟎. 𝟎𝟓𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐𝟓𝒙 + 𝟏𝟓𝟎𝟎, where x is the number of plastic bottles
produced (in thousands). What is the average cost for x = 50?
Answer Key:

Solution:
𝒚 = −𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟓𝒙𝟒 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟏𝟓𝒙𝟑 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟓𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐𝟓𝒙 + 𝟏𝟓𝟎𝟎
𝒚 = −𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟓(𝟓𝟎)𝟒 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟏𝟓(𝟓𝟎)𝟑 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟓(𝟓𝟎)𝟐 −𝟐𝟓(𝟓𝟎) + 𝟏𝟓𝟎𝟎
𝒚 = −𝟑𝟏𝟐. 𝟓 + 𝟏𝟖𝟕. 𝟓𝟎 + 𝟏𝟐𝟓 − 𝟏𝟐𝟓𝟎 + 𝟏𝟓𝟎𝟎
𝒚 = 𝟐𝟓𝟎
The average cost for 50 thousand plastic bottles is Php 250.00.