Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Velocity
Velocity is the rate of change of an object's position with respect to time. In calculus, it is often represented as the derivative of the position function. For the stone's height function s(t), the velocity v(t) can be found by differentiating s(t) with respect to time t, yielding v(t) = s'(t). This gives insight into how fast the stone is moving at any given moment.
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Derivative
The derivative is a fundamental concept in calculus that measures how a function changes as its input changes. It provides the slope of the tangent line to the function's graph at any point. In this context, taking the derivative of the height function s(t) allows us to calculate the instantaneous velocity of the stone at any time t, which is crucial for understanding its motion.
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Quadratic Functions
A quadratic function is a polynomial function of degree two, typically expressed in the form f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c. The height function s(t) = -16t^2 + 32t + 48 is a quadratic function, where the coefficient of t^2 indicates the stone's acceleration due to gravity. Understanding the properties of quadratic functions, such as their parabolas and vertex, is essential for analyzing the stone's motion and determining its maximum height and time of flight.
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