Mr. T has a wrong weighing pan. One arm is lengthier than other. 1 kilogram on left balances 8 melons on right. 1 kilogram on right balances 2 melons on left. If all melons are equal in weight,what is the weight of a single melon?

One Answer on this Question

1. Suppose the lengthier arm of weighing pan is of x cm and other arm is y cm .Also let weight if each melon be m kg.
   so applying equilibrium of torque principles ,we get
   case 1:-
   1x-8my=0
   case 2:-
   2mx-1y=0
   using case 1 equation , we substitute value of x into case 2 equation;
   16mmy-1y=0
   (16mm-1)y=0
   y is length of weighing arm and cannot be 0,
   therefore ,
   16mm-1 =0
   16mm=1
   mm=1/16
   m= square root (1/16)
   m=+-1/4
   m is weight of melon and cant be negative.
   Hence m, weight of one melon is 1/4 kg

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