Brain Teasers
Pots
You have two pots which fit the same lid. The large pot is 12 ounces without the lid. With the lid it weighs twice as much as the small pot on its own. The small pot with the lid is one-third more than the large pot on its own.
(1) How much does the lid weigh?
(2) How much does the small pot weigh?
(1) How much does the lid weigh?
(2) How much does the small pot weigh?
Answer
The lid weighs 6 2/3 ounces and the small pot weighs 9 1/3 ounces.Let us call the large pot P, the small pot p, and the lid L. The equations we are given then translate to:
1) P=12
2) P+L=2p
3) p+L=P+P/3
Combining the first two equations, we get:
4) 12+L=2p
Combining the second two, we get:
5)p+L=12+12/3
p+L=16
Simplifying equation two, we get:
6) p=P/2 +L/2
Adding L to each side gets:
P/2+L/2+L=p+L
Combining this with equation five gets:
7) P/2+L/2+L=P+P 1/3
P/2+L/2+L=16
Going back and adding in equation 1 gets:
8) 12/2+L/2+L=16
6+ L/2+L=16
Subtracting 6 from each side gets:
9) L/2+L=10
1.5L=10
To simplify this:
10) L=10/1.5
L=6 2/3
To figure out p is a simpler matter. Combining equations 4 and 10 gets:
11) 12+6 2/3=2p
18 2/3=2p
Simplifying this gets:
12) p=18 2/3 / 2
p=9 1/3
Hide Answer Show Answer
What Next?
View a Similar Brain Teaser...
If you become a registered user you can vote on this brain teaser, keep track of which ones you have seen, and even make your own.
Solve a Puzzle
Comments hidden to avoid spoilers.
Follow Braingle!