Final answer:
The possible value of an unknown weight, x, on Jax's barbell must be a positive number. Negative weight values do not apply in real-world scenarios, and weights cannot be 'undefined' or zero if they are contributing to an imbalance.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of Jax lifting weights at the gym, where the weights on the barbell are unbalanced, the possible value of one of the unknown weights, x, on the bar would logically be a positive number. Since weight is a measure of the force of gravity acting on an object, it can only have a positive value or zero, but in the context of lifting weights, a zero value would imply the absence of a weight, which would not contribute to the imbalance experienced by Jax.
A negative weight would not make physical sense, as weights cannot exhibit negative mass in a real-world scenario, and 'undefined' is not a meaningful value for a physical weight.
To understand this in a real-world exercise setting, imagine Jax lifting the barbell and feeling that one side is lighter than the other. This implies that there must be less mass on the lighter side, so assuming the unknown weight on that side is what is contributing to the imbalance, it must have a positive value that is less than the weights on the heavier side.
Since the problem with unbalanced weights is directly related to their masses, and given that masses cannot be negative or undefined, x must be a positive value to represent an actual physical weight.