AlgebraDifficulty 6.2National olympiadFind the answer
4・189 There is an inaccurate double-pan balance with unequal arm lengths and unequal pan weights. Three objects of different weights, A, B, and C, are weighed one by one. When they are placed on the left pan, their weights are measured as A1,B1,C1; when A and B are placed on the right pan, their weights are measured as A2,B2. Try to express the true weight of object C using the formula involving A1,B1,C1,A2,B2.
A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.
Solution
[Solution] Let the left arm length of the balance be l1, and the right arm length be l2; the weight of the left pan be m1, and the right pan be m2. According to the problem, we have ⎩⎨⎧(A+m1)l1=(A1+m2)l2,(B+m1)l1=(B1+m2)l2,(C+m1)l1=(C1+m2)l2,(A2+m1)l1=(A+m2)l2,(B2+m1)l1=(B+m2)l2.
Let m2l2−m1l1=k, rearranging the above system of equations gives ⎩⎨⎧Al1=A1l2+k,Bl1=B1l2+k,Cl1=C1l2+kA2l1=Al2+k,Bl1=Bl2+k.
From (1) - (2) we get (A−B)l1=(A1−B1)l2, From (4) - (5) we get (A2−B2)l1=(A−B)l2, Therefore, (assuming A>B) we have l2l1=A2−B2A1−B1. From (1) and (4) we get A=l1+l2A1l2+A2l1=l2l1+1A1+A2l2l1. Substituting (6) into the above equation and simplifying, we get A=A1−B1+A2−B2A1A2−B2+A2A1−B1.
From (1) and (3) we get C=(C1−A1)⋅l1l2+A. Substituting (6) and (7) into the above equation, we get C=(C1−A1)A1−B1A2−B2+A1−B1+A2−B2A1A2−B2+A2A1−B1.
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