Question 145594
A lever 12 m long balances weights of 48 kg on one end and 24 kg on the other end.  Find the lenghth of the two arms of the lever.
---------
Let one arm have length = x meters ; Then the other arm is "12-x" meters.
----------
Proportion:
x/ 48 = (12-x)/24
24x = 48(12-x)
24x = 48*12 - 48x
72x = 48*12
9x = 6*12
x = 8 meters (one of the arms)
12-x = 4 meters (the other arm)
=================
Cheers,
Stan H.