Balance Beam – 1
To balance, weights must be the same on opposite sides of a horizontal balance beam. The total weight is given above the balance beam.
In a given puzzle, figures of the same shape must have the same weight. However, it is allowed for different shapes to have the same weight.
THE CHALLENGE
The squares each have weight 2. Find the weight of each of the triangles and the total weight of all the figures.
EXPLORATION
Create balance beams for others to solve. Make sure there is enough information that they can be figured out.
Notes
THE CHALLENGE
Replace the squares with 2’s. This means that the three triangles on the left side balance with a triangle plus 6 (three 2’s) on the right. For these two sides to be equal, two triangles must balance with the 6. So, each triangle has a weight of 3.
Replacing the triangles with 3’s means that there are a total of 9 on each side, which gives a grand total of 18 for the whole balance beam.