To find the maximum height quickly from a trajectory equation $ y = ax - bx^2 $, you can use calculus. The maximum height occurs at the vertex where $ dy/dx = 0 $.
Here, $ 1 - (2x/25) = 0 \implies x = 12.5 $. Plugging $ x = 12.5 $ into the equation gives $ y = 12.5 - (12.5)^2/25 = 12.5 - 6.25 = 6.25 $, which is exactly $ 25/4 $.