SOLUTION: a full grown giraffe is about 6 times heavier than a full grown lion. A full grown cheetah is about one-quarter as heavy as a full grown lion. Together, they are about 450kg. What

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Question 23050: a full grown giraffe is about 6 times heavier than a full grown lion. A full grown cheetah is about one-quarter as heavy as a full grown lion. Together, they are about 450kg. What is the approximate mass of each animal?
Found 2 solutions by Paul, stanbon!:
Answer by Paul(988) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
6x%2Bx%2Bx%2B1%2F4x%28x%29=450
8x%2B1%2F4x%5E2-450=0 remove 4
x%5E2%2B32x-1800=0
Use Qudratic formula: x+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4%2Aa%2Ac+%29%29%2F%282%2Aa%29+
a= 1, b=32, c=-1800
x+=+%28-32+%2B-+sqrt%28+32%5E2-4%281%29%28-1800%29+%29%29%2F2%281%29%29+
simplify: Add: +x+=+%282%29sqrt%28514%2B8%29%29
x = 62 (rounded)
62 x 6 =372
62/4 =15.5 ---> 16


Hence, the lion weights 62pounds, the giaff weights 372 pounds are the lion weights 16 pounds.
16+372+62=450

Answer by stanbon!(97) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
cheetah = (1/4)lion
Therefore lion = 4*cheetah
Cheetah + lion = 450 kg
Substituting you get:
Cheetah +4*cheetah = 450
5 cheetah = 450
cheetah = 90 kg
Therefore lion = 450-90 = 360 kg
giraffe = 6*lion
Therefore giraffe = 6(360)= 2160 kg
Cheers,
Stan H.