SOLUTION: a giraffe is six times heavier than a lion. a zebra is one-quarter as heavy as a lion. together they are 450kg. how much does each animal weigh?

Question 313688: a giraffe is six times heavier than a lion. a zebra is one-quarter as heavy as a lion. together they are 450kg. how much does each animal weigh?

Found 3 solutions by mananth, rapaljer, Alan3354:
Answer by mananth(16946)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
a giraffe is six times heavier than a lion. a zebra is one-quarter as heavy as a lion. together they are 450kg. how much does each animal weigh?
..
let lion weigh x kg
giraffe= 6x
zebra = x/4
Total = 450.
..
x+x/4 +6x=450
29x/4 =450
x=1800/29
lion = 62.06 kgs
giraffe= 372.6 kgs
zebra = 15.5
CHECK
62.06 +372.6+15.5=450.6kgs
Answer by rapaljer(4671)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x = weight of the lion, since this is at the end of each phrase of the problem.

6x= weight of the giraffe
(1/4)x= weight of the zebra

x+6x + (1/4)x=450

Multiply both sides by 4:
4x+ 24x+ 1x= 1800
29x=1800
x=62.07 lbs approximately = LION
6x=372.41 lbs approximately = GIRAFFE
1/4 x = 15.52 lbs approximately = ZEBRA

Sum = 450 pounds

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Seminole State College of Florida
Altamonte Springs Campus
Answer by Alan3354(69443)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Is it "6 times heavier", or six times as heavy?
---------------------------
7x = weight of the giraffe
x/4 = weight of the zebra
x + 7x + x/4=450
Multiply thru by 4
4x+ 28x+ 1x= 1800
33x=1800
x =~ 54.54 lbs (weight of lion)
7x =~ 381.82 lbs (giraffe)
x/4 =~ 13.36 lbs (zebra)
Totals 450 pounds
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