SOLUTION: two men are just able to pry up a 375-pound weight with a crowbar when the fulcrum for this lever is 2 feet from the weight and the men exert their strengths at 3 feet and 5 feet,

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Question 1146258: two men are just able to pry up a 375-pound weight with a crowbar when the fulcrum for this lever is 2 feet from the weight and the men exert their strengths at 3 feet and 5 feet, respectively, from the fulcrum. if the men interchange positions, they can can raise a 385-pound weight. what pressure does each man exert?
Answer by greenestamps(13367) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The product of the forces and the distances from the fulcrum must be the same on both sides.

X 3 feet from the fulcrum and Y 5 feet; on the other side, 375 pounds at 2 feet:

3X%2B5Y+=+2%28375%29+=+750

X 5 feet from the fulcrum and Y 3 feet; on the other side, 385 pounds at 2 feet:

5X%2B3Y+=+2%28385%29+=+770

Subtract one equation from the other:

2X-2Y+=+20
X-Y+=+10
X+=+Y%2B10

Substitute in one of the original equations:

3%28Y%2B10%29%2B5Y+=+750
3Y%2B30%2B5y+=+750
8Y+=+720
Y+=+90

X+=+Y%2B10+=+100

ANSWERS: 90 pounds for Y and 100 pounds for X.