Mechanics problem about lifting an object

Question

While lifting a regular uniform rectangular plate with side dimensions a and b, one of the three workers holds it at one of the four courners. At which points must the other two workers hold the plate so that all three workers

would be lifting the plate with an equal force?

Answer 1

To ensure that all three workers are lifting the plate with equal force, the other two workers must hold the plate at the midpoints of the remaining two sides.

Worker 1, who is holding the plate at one corner, represents one vertex of the rectangle. The other two workers should position themselves at the midpoints of the two sides adjacent to Worker 1's corner.

So, the positions where the other two workers must hold the plate are:

At the midpoint of the side with dimension a (adjacent to Worker 1's corner).

At the midpoint of the side with dimension b (also adjacent to Worker 1's corner).

By distributing the lifting points at these positions, the force will be evenly distributed among the three workers.