How do you solve this? Please write out steps.?

In order for the seagull to catch the falling crab, their two paths must be equal. Thus,

-16t²+30 = -8t+15

Solve for t to find out when the gull catches the crab (when the two paths intersect):

-16t²+30 = -8t+15

-16t²+8t+15 = 0

(-4t+5)(4t+3) = 0

(-4t+5) = 0 when

.....t = -5/(-4) = 5/4 seconds

(4t+3) = 0 when

.....t = -3/4 seconds

We can ignore t = -3/4 since we don't have negative time in this dimension, so the answer is that the seagull catches the crab at t= 5/4 = 1.25 seconds...............ANS

Look at the graphs below to see the paths of the crab (in RED) and the seagull (in BLUE).

https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=plot+-16t%5E...

set the two equations equal and solve for t.