Question

A crane cable can support a maximum load of 17,000 kg. If a bucket has a mass of 4,000 kg and gravel has a mass of 1,500 kg for every cubic meter, how many cubic meters of gravel (g) can be safely lifted by the crane? Enter any fractions as reduced improper fractions.

Answer 1

We can set up a model for this problem

4000 + 1500x = 17,000
1500x + 4000 = 17,000

Now solve for x

1500x + 4000 =  17000
1500x + 4000 - 4000=  17000 - 4000
1500x = 13000
1500x /  1500 = 13000 / 1500
x =  $\frac{26}{3}$