SOLUTION: An elevator can safely hold no more than 2000 pounds. An elevator operator must take 55-pound boxes to a storage area. If he weighs 165 pounds, how many boxes can he safely move at

Algebra ->  Linear-equations -> SOLUTION: An elevator can safely hold no more than 2000 pounds. An elevator operator must take 55-pound boxes to a storage area. If he weighs 165 pounds, how many boxes can he safely move at      Log On


   

Question 174694: An elevator can safely hold no more than 2000 pounds. An elevator operator must take 55-pound boxes to a storage area. If he weighs 165 pounds, how many boxes can he safely move at one time?
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
First, subtract his weight 165 lbs from 2000 lbs to get


2000 - 165 = 1835


So he has 1,835 lbs devoted to the boxes


Now simply divide that figure by 55 to find the amount of boxes


1835%2F55=33.36


Rounding down we get 33 boxes. So you can safely place 33 boxes in the elevator



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Alternative Method:


This problem translates to the algebraic equation


y=55x%2B165 where x is the number of boxes and y is the total weight that the elevator can handle


2000=55x%2B165 Plug in y=2000


2000-165=55x Subtract 165 from both sides.


1835=55x Subtract.


1835%2F55=x Divide both sides by 55 to isolate x.


367%2F11=x Reduce


x=33.36 Divide.


Round down to get x=33. So the elevator can safely handle 33 boxes.