Ivan Chew's answer to nsn's Junior College 1 H3 Maths question.

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Ivan Chew
Ivan Chew's answer
16 answers (Tutor Details)
1st
The question would be simpler if the cheetah is jumping VERTICALLY. However, since the cheetah is jumping diagonally, find the vertical component first (since you don't care how much the cheetah moves horizontally)

1)
Let the initial diagonal speed = x m/s
Initial VERTICAL speed
= x sin(45degr) m/s
= x/sqrt(2) m/s

2)
Assume deceleration due to gravity is 9.81 m/s^2
Cheetah reaches max height at time
x/sqrt(2) m/s / 9.81 m/s^2
= x/9.81sqrt(2) s

Max height = Area under the triangle
3.7m = 1/2 * time taken to reach max ht * initial VERTICAL speed
3.7 = 1/2 * x * x / sqrt(2) / 9.81sqrt(2)
3.7 = x^2 / 9.81 / 4
x^2 = 145.188
x = 12.0 (x > 0 as cheetah is airborne not underground =X )