Question

An astronaut visited Mars. His weight on Earth was 180 pounds, and his weight on Mars was only 72 pounds. He removed a rock with a weight of 16 pounds on Mars. What is the weight of the rock on Earth? a. 1.4 pounds c. 6.4 pounds b. 4 pounds d. 40 pounds Please select the best answer from the choices provided A B C D

Answer 1

d. 40 pounds

Explanation:

We know both weights of the astronaut, and we know one of the weight of the rock... we need to find the other weight of the rock (on Earth).

The easiest way to deal with those problems is to use a cross-multiplication.

We'll place on top the weights on Earth and as denominators the weights on Mars:

`(x)/(16) = (180)/(72)`

So we isolate x = (16 * 180) / 72 = 2,880 / 72 = 40 pounds.

The rock then weights 40 pounds on Earth.