Question

A woman and her son are playing on a seesaw. The boy is at one end, 6 ft from the fulcrum. If the son weighs 90 lb and the mother weighs 120 lb, where should the woman sit so that the seesaw is balanced?

Answer 1

Answer:

The mother should sit at a distance of 4.5 ft from the fulcrum on the opposite side to the boy

Explanation:

Data provided in the question:

Distance of boy from the fulcrum, x₁ = 6 ft

Weight of the boy, W₁ = 90 lb

Weight of the mother, W₂ = 120 lb

let the distance of mother from the fulcrum be 'x₂'

Now,

Using the law of the lever equation:

W₁x₁ = W₂x₂

or

90 × 6 = 120 ×  x₂

or

540 = 120 ×  x₂

or

x₂ = 4.5 ft

hence,

The mother should sit at a distance of 4.5 ft from the fulcrum on the opposite side to the boy