SOLUTION: Mary weighs 45 pounds and sits six feet from the fulcrum of a Seesaw. If Bob who weighs 60 pounds wants to keep the seasaw balanced, how far from the fulcrum must he sit?

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Travel -> SOLUTION: Mary weighs 45 pounds and sits six feet from the fulcrum of a Seesaw. If Bob who weighs 60 pounds wants to keep the seasaw balanced, how far from the fulcrum must he sit?       Log On

The equilibrium condition on a seesaw is


 = ,


where W is the weight,  d is the distance from the fulcrum and "1" and "2" are indexes.


In your case  45*6 = 60*x,   which gives


x =  = 4.5 ft.