s = displacement
t = time
u = initial speed
a = acceleration
This is the formula for calculating displacement
s = ut + 0.5at^2
as Thobson said before, one is going to need to use the quadratic formula to find the values for t.
Here's just an example I'm making:
t = time of interest
u = initial speed of the object
v = its final velocity
a = -9.8
s = total displacement from starting position
so,
We're trying to find the life span of this object, or t.
given values:
u = 12ms-1
v = 30ms-1
a = -9.8ms-2
s = 200m
this is our equation so far:
200 = 12*t + 0.5(-9.8)t^2
converting to quadratic equation :
0 = (-0.49)t^2 + 12t - 200
using quadratic formula to find the values for t:
formula:
t = (-b +- sqrt(b^2 - 4ac))/(2a)
t = (-12 +- sqrt(12^2 - 4*-0.49*-200))/(9.

do the math and the two possible values for t are known. If one of them is negative, then take the one that is positive. The value for t then tells us at what time all of those variables are true. This might be useful in some cases when you need to calculate other properties.
there may be something wrong, but i think this is right.
Also, almost forgot something very important that you guys might like.
The maximum height of the object:
This is how high the object reached during its life span.
in this case t = total time the object was alive
0 = u + at
this will allow you to get the maximum height of the object, this is good if you wanted to calculate wheather or not something can shoot high enough to reach the target, or whatever. Just bsing here.
Anyway, hope this is right and helps in someway.
Thanks Thobson for inspiring me to learn physics
Bluelikeu