Final Answer:
A whole brick weighs one pound. This is determined by the balance where three quarters of the brick equals three quarters of a pound.
Explanation:
In this scenario, the equilibrium of the balance implies that three quarters of the brick's weight is equivalent to three quarters of a pound on the other side. This relationship forms the basis of a proportion, expressed as
where ( x ) represents the weight of the whole brick.
By cross-multiplying, we ascertain that
, leading to ( x = 1 ) pound. Consequently, the weight of the entire brick is established as one pound, a conclusion drawn from the equilibrium in the balance, affirming the equivalence of three quarters of the brick to three quarters of a pound.
This mathematical approach demonstrates the application of proportions to determine the weight of the complete brick in the given balancing context.