A ball's height in feet after t seconds is modeled by h(t) = -16t² + 96t + 10. What is the maximum height the ball reaches, in feet?

The height is a downward-opening parabola, so the maximum is at the vertex. The vertex time is $t = -\frac{b}{2a} = -\frac{96}{2(-16)} = 3$ seconds. Then $h(3) = -16(9) + 96(3) + 10 = -144 + 288 + 10 = 154$ feet, choice B. Choice A (96) is the coefficient of $t$. Choice C (10) is the height at $t = 0$. Choice D (144) is the maximum height measured from the starting point, $288 - 144$, which leaves out the initial 10 feet. The maximum includes the starting height of 10 feet.