Instructions:

Height as a function of time is illustrated in this application. You select a value for the initial height for each sky diver. Upon clicking "run," you will see the altitude of each sky diver change until reaching the ground. By adding the two polynomials together, you will see that when they jump at different heights, but at the same time, the difference in height stays constant until the first sky diver reaches the ground. Now change the altitude several times for one or both of the sky divers and observe the pattern.

Next, change sky divers to parachutists by clicking on the button beside the "parachutes." The interactive application now has two variables that you can set, both initial height and initial time. Make several changes and run the application to see the changes in the polynomial equations. Remember to check out the problem in your textbook, number 97 on page 214.

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