Final answer:
To calculate the number of passengers that can travel on the airplane on Tuesday, the weight of the mail is subtracted from the total capacity, and the remainder is divided by the average combined weight of a passenger with luggage. The calculation indicates that the greatest possible number of passengers is 7.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the greatest possible number of passengers that can travel on the airplane on Tuesday, we must first account for the weight of the mail. We know that the mail weighs 490 pounds and the total weight the airplane can carry is 1,700 pounds. Once the mail is subtracted from the total weight capacity, we have 1,700 - 490 = 1,210 pounds available for passengers and their luggage.
Next, we consider that the average combined weight of each passenger with their luggage is 170 pounds. To find the maximum number of passengers, we divide the available weight for passengers and their luggage by the average combined weight. That gives us 1,210 / 170 = 7.117. Since we cannot have a fraction of a passenger, we round down to the nearest whole number. Therefore, the greatest possible number of passengers is 7.