Free fall motion from airplane

[bdh2991]

Homework Statement

A package is dropped at time t = 0 from a helicopter that is ascending steadily at a speed vi.
What is the speed of the package in terms of V[itex]_{i}[/itex], g, and t?

Homework Equations

V (t) = V[itex]_{o}[/itex] + -9.8 t

The Attempt at a Solution

I thought it was the same as the normal equation for velocity such as stated above but with the different variables substituted for example:

|V| = V[itex]_{i}[/itex] + gt

except i got the answer wrong, then i tried putting a negative sign on the v[itex]_{i}[/itex] part but still got it wrong...help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[lewando]

You are close. Speed is |v(t)|. Try putting the magnitude bars around your expression for v(t).

 

[bdh2991]

the magnitude bars are already there on the online hw, only the stuff to the right of the "=" sign is what I'm able to input...nvm i see what your saying...but there was another part of the question in which the plane was descending and asked the same question and i got it right without putting the '|' around v(t)

 

[CWatters]

Try

|V| = |Vi - gt|

or

|V| = |gt - Vi|

 

[bdh2991]

Try

|V| = |Vi - gt|

or

|V| = |gt - Vi|

tried both but neither worked...i really think it is just the stupid website that i have to do the homework on but I'm all out of chances so doesn't matter now lol thanks for the suggestions though