John weighed the pumpkins two at a time. After he is done weighing the pumpkins he observed the following weights: 110, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 120, and 121 pounds.
How much did each pumpkin weigh?
Explain Clearly how you got the answer?
Note:
I think this problem is a variation on this theme :
http://web2.0calc.com/questions/how-much-do-they-weigh
Here's my solution :
I'm assuming that we have 5 pumpkins and we are weighing them in couples and all the pumpkins are of different weights
Let a > b > c > c > d > e where these are the weights of the pumpkins
And each is weighed 4 times.....
So we have that ( sum of the weights)/4 = 1156/4 ⇒ a + b + c + d + e = 289
And here are the equations that we are sure of
The two heaviest = a + b = 121 (1)
Since a > b, then a + c > b + c....so a + c is the second heaviest weight
a + c = 120 (2)
The two lightest = d + e = 110 (3)
Since c > d, then c + e > d + e ......so c + e is the second lightest weight
c + e = 112 (4)
Subtract (2) from (1) = b - c = 1 ⇒ b = c + 1
Subtract (4) from (3) = c - d = 2 ⇒ c = d + 2
So this implies that b = d + 3
Now.....add (1) and (2)
2a + b + c = 241 ⇒ b + c = 241 - 2a ⇒ (d + 3) + (d + 2) = 241 - 2a ⇒
2d + 5 = 241 - 2a → 2a + 2d = 236 ⇒ a + d = 118 ⇒ a = 118 - d
Similarly.....add (3) + (4) and we have that
c + d + 2e = 222 ⇒ (d + 2) + d = 222 - 2e ⇒ 2d = 220 - 2e ⇒ d = 110 - e ⇒ e = 110 - d
So
a + b + c + d + e = 289 and substituitng, we have
(118 - d) + (d + 3) + (d + 2) + d + (110 - d) = 289
d + 233 = 289
d = 56 lbs
So
a = 118 - d = 62 lbs
b = d + 3 = 59 lbs
c = d + 2 = 58 lbs
d = 56 lbs
e = 110 - d = 54 lbs
John weighed the pumpkins two at a time. After he is done weighing the pumpkins he observed the following weights:
110, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 120, and 121 pounds.
How much did each pumpkin weigh?
Explain Clearly how you got the answer?
see https://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/Exponents/Exponents.faq.question.70198.html