In the figure above, the length of side $AB$ of triangle $ABC$ is $3$, and $\angle A = \angle C= 30^{\circ}$. What is the area of the triangle $ABC$?

1. $\quad \dfrac{9\sqrt{3}}{8}$
2. $\quad \dfrac{9}{4}$
3. $\quad \dfrac{9\sqrt{3}}{4}$
4. $\quad \dfrac{9}{2}$
5. $\quad \dfrac{27\sqrt{3}}{8}$

An object thrown directly upward is at a height of $h$ feet after $t$ seconds, where $h = -16t^2 + 12t + 24$. The number $24$ in this equation represents which of the following?

1. $\quad$ The highest distance the ball is from the ground.
2. $\quad$ The distance the ball is from the ground when it is thrown upward.
3. $\quad$ The number of seconds the ball will take to reach the highest point.
4. $\quad$ The number of seconds the ball will take to reach the ground.
5. $\quad$ The velocity of the ball when it is thrown.