The distance an object falls when dropped from a tower varies directly as the square of the time it falls. If the object falls 144 feet in 3 seconds, how far will it fall in 18 seconds?

Since the distance varies directly as the square of the time, write d = kt². Using 144 feet in 3 seconds gives k = 144 ÷ 3² = 16. In 18 seconds, the object falls 16 × 18² = 16 × 324 = 5,184 feet, so the correct choice is 5,184 ft.

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