Levers and Fulcrums... Any Help Is Appreciated

[Sam2.0]

Howdy All... New here, but so AMAZINGLY glad I found sight... lets just say math is not my best subject!

My first problem is as follows.

Jason can lift a small car with the use of a lever. The short end of the steel rod is 8 inches from the fulcrum and the long end is 8 feet from the fulcrum. What is the maximum weight Jason can lift if he weighs 160 pounds?

Thanks to anyone and everyone for any help you can provide.

 

[soroban]

Hello, Sam2.0!

Do you know the "lever law"? \(\displaystyle \;\;W_1\,\times L_1\;=\;W_2\,\times\,L_2\)
. . where the \(\displaystyle W\)'s are the weights and the \(\displaystyle L\)'s are their distances from the fulcrum.

Jason can lift a small car with the use of a lever.
The short end of the steel rod is 8 inches from the fulcrum and the long end is 8 feet from the fulcrum.
What is the maximum weight Jason can lift if he weighs 160 pounds?

Let \(\displaystyle W_1\) be the car's weight. .It is 8 inches from the fulcrum: \(\displaystyle L_1 = 8\)

Jason weighs 160 pounds: \(\displaystyle W_2 = 160.\) .He is 8 feet (96 inches) from the fulcrum: \(\displaystyle L_2 = 96\)

We have: \(\displaystyle \;W_1\,\times\,8\:=\:160\,\times\,96\;\;\Rightarrow\;\;W_1\,=\.1920\) pounds.

 

[Sam2.0]

Thanks Much Soroban!