Problema Solution

kelci weighs 60 pounds and sits 4 feet from the fulcrum of a seesaw. on the other end is her sister Kelly, who weighs 40 pounds. how many feet from the fulcrum should jelly sit in order to balance the seesaw?

Answer provided by our tutors

This is an example of an inverse variation. A seesaw is a type of lever.


w1 = 60 lbs the weight of Kelci

w2 = 40 lbs the weight of Kelly

d1 = 4 ft the distance between Kelci and the fulcrum

d2 = the distance between Kelly and the fulcrum


w1*d1 = w2*d2


60*4 = 40*d2


d2 = (60*4)/40


d2 = 6 ft


Kelly should site 6 feet from the fulcrum of the seesaw.