SOLUTION: Two boys weighing 100 and 150 lbs . respectively use a 15 ft plank for a teeter totter . Where should the fulcrum be placed for balance?

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Question 88803: Two boys weighing 100 and 150 lbs . respectively use a 15 ft plank for a teeter totter . Where should the fulcrum be placed for balance?
Answer by Earlsdon(6294) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
In order for the teeter-totter to balance in this problem, then:
w%5B1%5Dd%5B1%5D+=+w%5B2%5Dd%5B2%5D Where:
w%5B1%5D and w%5B2%5D are the weights 100 lbs and 150 lbs of the two boys and d%5B1%5D and d%5B2%5D are the distances of the two boys from the center (fulcrum) of the teeter-totter. w%5B1%5D+=+100 and w%5B2%5D+=+150
From this, you can write:
1) 100d%5B1%5D+=+150d%5B2%5D
Now you are also told that the length of the teeter-totter is 15 feet, so you can write:
2) d%5B1%5D%2Bd%5B2%5D+=+15 Rewrite this as:
3) d%5B1%5D+=+15-d%5B2%5D Now substitute this into equation 1) and solve for d%5B2%5D
1a) 100%2815-d%5B2%5D%29+=+150d%5B2%5D Simplify and solve for d%5B2%5D
1500-100d%5B2%5D+=+150d%5B2%5D Add 100d%5B2%5D to both sides.
1500+=+250d%5B2%5D Divide both sides by 250.
6+=+d%5B2%5D...and
d%5B1%5D+=+15-d%5B2%5D
d%5B1%5D+=+15-6
d%5B1%5D+=+9
So the fulcrum should be placed 6 feet from end holding the 150-lb boy (9 feet from the other) of the teeter-totter to achieve balance with the two boys.