50 odd years I been wondering "If a brick & half a brick weigh a pound & half a brick, what's a brick weigh?"

Question

The question was asked half a century ago in my favorite puzzle book, with answers at the back.
My dopey little brother scribbled all over the answer page - so I never could decipher the answer or work it out.
Any algebra wizzes out there?

Answer 1

Brick = 1 Pound

Let's say Brick = B

B + 1/2(B) = 1 + 1/2(B)
B = 1 (subtract 1/2(B) from both sides)

Brick = 1 Pound

Answer 2

6 pounds. I will work through how you find the weight of one brick. Then just multiply that weight by the number of bricks you wish to find the weight of, in this case 1 1/2. Unless this is a riddle similar to those such as what does a butcher weigh with the answer being meat. Or, you are being pedantic and will say weight is measured in Newtons while mass is in pounds. Or does pound refer to the currency. Whatever it is, from the information in the question I can't see that it would be any of the alternatives I have listed, nor can I think of any others. Judging by some of the crazy and varied answers below I think this is as simple as I have made it out to be below but people are somehow confused, (I hope I am right now after saying that and haven't worked it out incorrectly myself). 1 brick = 2lb + 1/2 brick [minus 1/2 brick from both sides of the equation] 1/2 brick = 2lb [multiply by 2 to get the weight of a whole brick] 1 brick = 4lb

Answer 3

3/2 brick = 1 pound + 1/2 brick
thus 2/2 brick = 1 pound
1 brick = 1 pound

Answer 4

Let x = the weight of a brick

Thus,
x/2 = weight of half a brick

The equation is:
x + x/2 = 1 lb + x/2

cancel the x/2's on both sides (by subtracting x/2 to both sides)
x = 1 lb

.·. a brick weighs 1 pound.

^_^

Answer 5

a brick + half a brick = a pound + half a brick
a brick = a pound

Answer 6

A brick wegh a pond in the given situation.

Answer 7

a pound and a half.if it weighed a pound and a half per brick then each brick would weigh a pound and a half

Answer 8

One pound

Answer 9

I pound.
The question looks confusing at first but it really is simple.