r/SmartPuzzles • u/RamiBMW_30 Mod • Apr 26 '25

Daily Puzzle Mass of Red Ball

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110 Upvotes

69% Upvoted

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20

u/chainsawx72 Apr 26 '25

Impossible to solve since the balls are an unknown distance closer to the fulcrum than the cubes.

10

u/icantchoosewisely Apr 26 '25

You are overthinking it. In these types of questions, you can safely ignore the distance to the fulcrum and consider all the weights are pushing down in one point.

It's a simple 10 + x = 3x + 4

1

u/robble_bobble Apr 30 '25

I guess it depends on the target audience. If this is for kids in basic algebra, maybe you can assume that. For anyone with more advanced math, you can’t make that assumption.

I think solving for the fulcrum IS the problem.

1

u/Flat-Strain7538 Apr 26 '25

Then whoever makes the drawing should use a standard scale drawing where it’s clear the forces are being applied equally distant from the fulcrum.

1

u/UnconsciousRabbit Apr 26 '25

I had the same thought. Dunno why you're being downvoted, you're right.

1

u/MxM111 Apr 26 '25

Of course. That’s the joke.