Final answer:
Simple machines reduce the input force needed to do work by increasing the distance over which that force is applied, providing a mechanical advantage and making tasks easier.
Step-by-step explanation:
Simple machines make work easier by changing the amount of force you must apply to achieve a certain amount of work. Although the total amount of work remains the same due to energy conservation, simple machines can reduce the input force needed, thus making tasks feel easier. For example, when using a lever, you apply less force but move it over a larger distance, thereby gaining mechanical advantage by distributing the workload over an extended space.
The ratio of output to input force magnitudes for any simple machine is known as its mechanical advantage (MA). Simple machines, such as levers, gears, pulleys, wedges, and screws, are devices designed to either multiply or augment the force we apply, often at the expense of an increase in the distance through which we apply the force.