jmc

Question

A ball is dropped straight down from a height of 16 feet. If it bounces back each time to a height one-half the height from which it last fell, how far will the ball have traveled when it hits the floor for the sixth time, in feet?

Accepted Answer

The ball first drops 16 feet. It then travels up 8 feet and down 8 feet. When it hits the floor for the sixth time, it will have traveled 16 + 8 + 8 + 4 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 1/2 + 1/2 = 47 feet.