Question

there are 24 pounds of nails in a sack.can you measure out 9 pounds of nails using only a balance with two pans ?​

Answer 1

Given: There are 24 pounds of nails in a sack.

To find: Whether we can measure 9 pounds of nails using only a balance with two pans ?

Solution:

• Yes, we can measure 9 pounds of nails using only a balance with two pans.

• Let X be number of nails. The weight of them will be equal to 24 pounds.

• Now we want equal number of weight on each side of balance. S o to balance it we will divide the nails evenly.

                 So let there be:x/2,  x/4,  x/8

                Then, it will be:

                 x/2=12 pounds

                x/4=6 pounds

                x/8=3 pounds

• So we get the following groups x/2+x/4+x/8+x/8=x

• And from above we can see that x/4 + x/8 nails will give 9 pounds.

Answer:

            So yes we can measure out 9 pounds of nails using only a balance with two pans.