i have a ten inch piece of steel that weighs 50 pounds. i need a formula to figure out how many inches i would cut off to equal 10 pounds. this is a hypothetical question that i am asking to try and do my job quicker. i realize the answer is 2 inches, but i need a formula to come to an easy solution.
2007-05-30 16:29:45 · 2 answers · asked by bigguyredhair596 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
You first divide the amount you need to cut off by the whole amount. eg 10pounds/50 pounds. You then multiply the first amount by the length. eg 10/50*10+2 inches.
[Cutoff Weight/Original Weight * Length of steel]
2007-05-30 18:17:08 · answer #1 · answered by Tim 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Set up a proportion.
known length of steel/known weight of steel = x / wanted weight of steel
Or change it around like this:
x inches = known length * wanted weight / known weight
In your example:
The known length is 10 inches.
The known weight of that length is 50 pounds.
The wanted weight is 10 pounds.
To find the amount of steel to cut off for 10 pounds:
x inches = known length * wanted weight / known weight
x inches = 10 * 10 / 50 = 100 / 50 = 2 inches
Take another example. Let's say you want 4 pounds.
Same knowns: 10 inches = 50 pounds
x inches = known length * wanted weight / known weight
x inches = 10 * 4/50 = 40/50 = 0.8 inches
2007-05-30 16:42:25 · answer #2 · answered by ecolink 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋