Question

An aluminum ladder holds 220 lb. A 152-lb person, a 15-lb weight, and a box are on the ladder without breaking it. Write and solve an inequality to find the maximum weight of the box.

Answer 1

Let x lb be the weight of a box. Since 152-lb person, a 15-lb weight, and a box are on the ladder without breaking it and the ladder holds 220 lb, then

152+15+x≤220.

Solve this inequality:

167+x≤220,

x≤220-167,

x≤53 lb.

The maximum weight of the box can be 53 lb.