Question

(45pts) An elevator holds at most 1,400 pounds. A team of movers and their cart have a combined weight of 1,200 pounds. If each mover can also carry a box weighing 40 pounds, what is the greatest possible number of boxes the movers can bring on the elevator? Write an equation AND solve the problem for full credit.

Answer 1

Let $x$ be the number of boxes the team brings with them. Their weight combined with the boxes can't exceed the capacity of 1400. Assuming the elevator runs fine at that exact weight, you want to find the number of boxes, each of which contributes 40 pounds. This is given by the equation

$1400=1200+40x$

Solving for $x$, you have

$1400=1200-40x$
$200=40x$
$x=5$

So the team can bring *at most* 5 boxes at a time.