Question

9. A full-grown giraffe is about 6 times

heavier than a full-grown lion. A full-grown
cheetah is about one-quarter as heavy as a
full-grown lion. Together, they are about
450 kg. What is the approximate mass of each
animal?

Answer 1

The mass of full grown giraffe is 372.42 kg and mass of full grown lion is 62.07 kg and mass of full grown cheetah is 15.51 kg

Solution:

Let "a" be the mass of full grown giraffe

Let "b" be the mass of full grown lion

Let "c" be the mass of full grown cheetah

A full-grown giraffe is about 6 times heavier than a full-grown lion

a = 6b ------- eqn 1

A full-grown cheetah is about one-quarter as heavy as a full-grown lion

`c = (1)/(4) * b\\\\c = (b)/(4) ----- eqn\ 2`

Together, they are about 450 kg

Therefore,

a + b + c = 450

Substitute eqn 1 and eqn 2 in above

`6b + b + (b)/(4) = 450\\\\24b + 4b + b = 450 * 4\\\\29b = 1800\\\\b = 62.07`

Substitute b = 62.07 in eqn 1

`a = 6(62.07)\\\\a = 372.42`

Substitute b = 62.07 in eqn 2

`c = (62.07)/(4) = 15.51`

Thus, mass of full grown giraffe is 372.42 kg and mass of full grown lion is 62.07 kg and mass of full grown cheetah is 15.51 kg