A ball is dropped from a height of 12 feet and returns to a height that is one-half of the height from which it fell. The ball continues to bounce half the height of the previous bounce each time. How far will the ball have traveled when it hits the ground for the fifth time?
Take the top of the bounces one at a time:
12 + 6 + 6 + 3 + 3 + 1.5 + 1.5 + 0.75 + 0.75
34.5 feet
Take the top of the bounces one at a time:
- Ball is dropped 12 feet and it bounces up to 6 feet
- Ball drops 6 feet back down and bounces up to 3 feet up
- Ball drops 3 feet back down and bounces up to 1.5 feet up
- Ball drops 1.5 feet down and bounces up to 0.75 feet up
- Return down after Bounce 5 is 0.75 feet down
12 + 6 + 6 + 3 + 3 + 1.5 + 1.5 + 0.75 + 0.75
34.5 feet
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