General Question

talljasperman's avatar

If a person is 280 pounds on one weight scale what would the scale say if you stood on two scales?

Asked by talljasperman (21916points) April 30th, 2013
7 responses
“Great Question” (1points)

Would each scale be 140 pounds?
One foot per scale.

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Answers

filmfann's avatar

140 if the weight is distributed evenly. If one scale is on top of the other, one will read a little more.

PhiNotPi's avatar

Theoretically, yes, each would read 140 pounds, but the person could be leaning to one side or another. (Also, like @filmfann says, two scales on top of each other would read slightly different numbers.)

Also, it might decrease the accuracy/precision of the measurement to use both scales side by side with one foot on each.

AP Statistics time!

Assume that the measurement on each scale is M = W + E, where W is the weight on the scale, and E is a normally-distributed error with a mean of U and a standard deviation of Q.

If you were to use one scale, the measurement will have a mean of (W + U) and a standard deviation of Q. If you were to use two scales and add the measurements together, the sum of the two scales will have a mean of (W + 2U) and a standard deviation of Q*sqrt(2).

marinelife's avatar

Probably E.

josie's avatar

Without all the qualifications, and getting to the point, 140 pounds.

majorrich's avatar

Chiropractors use this as a measurement of pelvic misalignment.

woodcutter's avatar

It might depend where you carry your wallet.

totally discounting any fanny packs

Inspired_2write's avatar

If the scale could talk it would say“Whoa there, time to exercise”.
But otherwise 140 LBs.

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