Week #8 Fall 2014
of the Week
Solution
In preparation for your interplanetary Thanksgiving feast, you have decided to purchase the bird a
couple of weeks in advance. Everyone has the same question on their mind…”How heavy is the
Thanksgiving turkey?” Having no way to weigh the turkey on its own, you make the following
observations:
1
 On the planet Cranberria, you and the turkey weigh of the amount that you
7
would weigh on Earth.
 On the planet Cranberria, you and the turkey weigh the same number of
pounds that the turkey weighs on Earth.
 You weigh 108 pounds more on Earth than you do on Cranberria.
How much does the Turkey weigh (on Earth)?
Solution:
Let 𝑥 be your weight and 𝑦 be the weight of the turkey (on Earth). We have the following
equations from above:
1
7
(𝑥 + 𝑦) = 𝑦
1
7
2
𝑥 + 108 = 𝑥 which gives the following solution: 𝑥 = 136 𝑦 = 22 3
2
So the turkey weighs 22 3 pounds.