Question

Can you help me verify my answers? I got a) d = k/w, b) 174 pounds, and c) 10 feet. Thanks!

Answer 1

a) Variables

• d: distance a person is from the pivot, in ft

,

• w: person's weight, in lbs

Since the variables are inversely proportional, then they are related by the next formula:

`d=(k)/(w)`

where k is constant.

b) Where w = 145 lbs, d = 6 ft. Substituting these values into the previous formula and solving for k:

`\begin{gathered} 6=(k)/(145) \\ 6\cdot145=(k)/(145)\cdot145 \\ 870=k \end{gathered}`

Substituting into the formula with d = 5 ft and k = 870, and solving for w, we get:

`\begin{gathered} 5=(870)/(w) \\ 5\cdot(w)/(5)=(870)/(w)\cdot(w)/(5) \\ w=174\text{ lbs} \end{gathered}`

c) Substituting into the formula with w = 87 lbs and k = 870, and solving for d, we get:

`\begin{gathered} d=(870)/(87) \\ d=10\text{ ft} \end{gathered}`