Question

An elevator is rated to safely hold ten 250 lb people. The elevator is loaded as follows: three 600 lbs cartons of books, Jim (180 lbs), Gavin (330 lbs), Deb (250 lbs), and Susan (120 lbs). In actuality, this elevator is safe holding 10% more than the posted limit. How much more weight could be safely added to this elevator?

Answer 1

It can still hold another 268 pounds. If you add the weight of everyone and everything it is 2680. They say it can still hold another 10% (move the decimal twice left) which means you just have to multiply 2680 by .10 to find the percentage more. That should be equal to 268.

Answer 2

To do this, we will need to find how much the elevator can hold in all. Multiply 10 by 250 to get 2500. Since it can also hold 10% more, multiply 2500 and 0.10 to find out how much 10% is. You get 250. Add 2500 and 250 to get how much the elevator can safely hold. It would be 2750.

To find out how much more weight can be added, first find out how much weight is on the elevator collectively. (books) 600+ (Jim) 180+ (Gavin) 330 + (Deb) 250 + (Susan) 120 = 1480. Subtract this from the amount the elevator can hold, and you get how much more weight can be added. 2750-1480= 1270.

The elevator can hold 1270 more ibs.