Algebra word problem

Question

There are 250 pounds on the left side of a barbell and 150 pounds on the right side. Suppose that you must balance the scale by adding 5 pound weights to the left side and exactly the same number of 10 pound weights to the right side. How many bags must you add to each side in order to balance the scale?

Answer 1

   250 + 5x =   150 + 10x 

-  150.           - 150

 

100 +  5 x. =. 10x

          -5x.      - 5x

 

100 = 5x

 

divide both sides by 5

 

20 = x

 

 

Mathematical form

 

The answer is:

 

x= 20 

Answer 2

Maggie,

 

We want to add the same number of bags, call that number x, to both sides.  On the left side each bag weighs 5 lbs and on the right side 10 lbs.  So the relationship between the left and right sides will be:

 

250 + 5x = 150 + 10x

 

simplifying gives:  5x = 100 and solve for x = 20.

Answer 3

Let x= number of bags to be added on both sides,

Then for the left side, the weight of 5x added on 250 pounds,  250+5x,

for the right side, the weight of 10x added to be 150 pounds, 150+10x

Set equal on the both sides, 250+5x = 150+10x

Solve for x,  x = 20,    

Answer:  20 bags