Generally, negative values of time do not have any meaning. Also, we need to assume the projectile hits the ground and then stops - it does not go underground.

So we need to calculate when it is going to hit the ground. This will be when h = 0. So we solve:

20t − 4.9t2 = 0

Factoring gives:

(20 − 4.9t)t = 0

This is true when

t = 0\ "s",

or

t=20/4.9 = 4.082 text(s)

Hence, the domain of the function h is

"all real values of t such that 0 ≤ t ≤ 4.082"

We can see from the function expression that it is a parabola with its vertex facing up. (This makes sense if you think about throwing a ball upwards. It goes up to a certain height and then falls back down.)

What is the maximum value of h? We use the formula for maximum (or minimum) of a quadratic function.

The value of t that gives the maximum is

t = -b/(2a) = -20/(2 xx (-4.9)) = 2.041 s

So the maximum value is

20(2.041) − 4.9(2.041)2 = 20.408 m

By observing the function of h, we see that as t increases, h first increases to a maximum of 20.408 m, then h decreases again to zero, as expected.

Hence, the range of h is

"all real numbers, 0 ≤ h ≤ 20.408"

Here is the graph of the function h:

Domain: 0<=x<=4.08
Range:
`0<=h<=20.4