Questions: A rock is dropped from the top of a 256-foot cliff. The height, in feet, of the rock above the water after t seconds is modeled by the polynomial 256-16 t^2. Factor this expression completely.
256-16 t^2=
Transcript text: A rock is dropped from the top of a 256-foot cliff. The height, in feet, of the rock above the water after $t$ seconds is modeled by the polynomial $256-16 t^{2}$. Factor this expression completely.
\[
256-16 t^{2}=
\]
Solution
Solution Steps
Step 1: Find the greatest common factor (GCF)
The GCF of 256 and 16 is 16.
Step 2: Factor out the GCF
Factoring out 16 from the expression 256 - 16t² gives 16(16 - t²).
Step 3: Factor the difference of squares
The expression inside the parentheses, 16 - t², is a difference of squares. It can be factored as (4 - t)(4 + t).