Today we have another fun balance puzzle that looks simple at first.
But don’t rush.
Many people give the wrong answer because they miss one small detail.
Take a careful look at every scale before you decide.
Let’s solve it together step by step.
The number on the scale says the woman and everything she is holding weigh 182 pounds.
Our job is to find the woman’s weight only.
That means we need to subtract the weight of the vegetables she is carrying.
So first, let’s find the weight of each item.
We’ll start with the small balance in the top left corner.
It shows three potatoes balance one tomato.
So we know:
3 potatoes = 1 tomato.
Now look at the balance in the top right.
It shows one tomato balances a 3-pound weight.
That tells us:
1 tomato = 3 pounds.
Since three potatoes equal one tomato, the three potatoes together also weigh 3 pounds.
So each potato weighs:
3 ÷ 3 = 1 pound.
Great!
Now let’s move to the bottom left balance.
It shows four tomatoes balance one carrot.
We already know one tomato weighs 3 pounds.
So four tomatoes weigh:
4 × 3 = 12 pounds.
That means:
1 carrot = 12 pounds.
Now look at the bottom right balance.
It shows two onions balance three carrots.
We already know each carrot weighs 12 pounds.
So three carrots weigh:
3 × 12 = 36 pounds.
Therefore, two onions together weigh 36 pounds.
That means each onion weighs:
36 ÷ 2 = 18 pounds.
Now let’s look at the bag the woman is holding.
Inside the bag there are:
Four potatoes.
One tomato.
Two onions.
Let’s find the total weight of the bag.
Four potatoes weigh:
4 × 1 = 4 pounds.
One tomato weighs:
3 pounds.
Two onions weigh:
2 × 18 = 36 pounds.
So the total weight of everything inside the bag is:
4 + 3 + 36 = 43 pounds.
The woman is also holding one carrot in her other hand.
We already know the carrot weighs 12 pounds.
So everything she is carrying weighs:
43 + 12 = 55 pounds.
The scale shows 182 pounds, which includes the woman and everything she is holding.
So the woman’s weight is:
182 − 55 = 127 pounds.
And that’s our final answer.
The woman weighs 127 pounds.
Did you get the correct answer before watching the explanation?
Let us know in the comments how quickly you solved it.
And don’t forget to come back for more fun brain teasers!
