SOLUTION: Electrical Trades: The sum of three voltages in a circuit is 38 volts. The middle-sized one is 2 volts more than the smallest. The largest is 6 volts more than the smallest. What i

Algebra ->  Human-and-algebraic-language -> SOLUTION: Electrical Trades: The sum of three voltages in a circuit is 38 volts. The middle-sized one is 2 volts more than the smallest. The largest is 6 volts more than the smallest. What i      Log On


   

Question 106358: Electrical Trades: The sum of three voltages in a circuit is 38 volts. The middle-sized one is 2 volts more than the smallest. The largest is 6 volts more than the smallest. What is the value of each voltage?
Answer by solver91311(24713) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Since the three voltages are compared in terms of the smallest, let x = Vs.

The medium voltage is 2 volts larger than the smallest, so x + 2 = Vm

And the largest voltage is 6 volts larger than the smallest, so x + 6 = Vl

Vs+%2B+Vm+%2B+Vl+=+38+volts or,
x+%2B+%28+x+%2B+2%29+%2B+%28x+%2B+6%29+=+38

Simplifying,
3x+%2B+8+=+38
3x=30
x+=+10, hence the smallest voltage is 10 volts, the medium voltage is 12 volts, and the largest voltage is 16 volts.

Checking the answer:

+10+%2B+12+%2B+16+=+38 check