PROBLEM SOLVING Ms.

Malley
TEXAS ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
PROBLEM:

A rubber ball rebounds to half the height it drops. If the ball is dropped from
a rooftop 18 m above the ground, what is the total distance traveled by the time it
hits the ground the third time?
a. 31.5 m
b. 40.5 m
c. 45 m
d. 63 m
 STEP 1:
The ball is dropped from a rooftop at 18 meters.

18 Meters
 STEP 2:
As the ball is released, it bounces up to 9 meters and then hits the ground for the second time.

9 meters
STEP 3:
The ball then bounces up to half of 9 meters which is 4.5 meters. The ball hits the
ground for the third time.

9meters

4.5 meters
STEP 4:
To find the total distance traveled by the time the ball hits the ground you will need to
add up all of the distances that the ball traveled. This will include the distance that the
ball raised and dropped.
STEP 5:
Now add up all five of the distances.

18+9+9+4.5+4.5=
SOLUTION:
The total number of meters the ball traveled by the third time it hit the ground is 45
meters.
HOW TO:
To find the distance that the ball has bounced you would need to add up all of the
distances. These distances include the height that the ball bounces and also the
distance that it falls. Drawing this problem out will help.