Answer :
Final answer:
To determine the maximum number of palettes the elevator can carry, subtract the weight of the operator from the total capacity and divide by the weight of one palette. The elevator can carry 54 palettes of roofing material.
Explanation:
The question asks for the maximum number of palettes of roofing material that a construction elevator can carry, given the maximum load capacity of the elevator and the weights of the elevator operator and each pallet. To find the answer, we need to use basic arithmetic to subtract the weight of the operator from the total capacity, and then divide the remaining weight capacity by the weight of a single palette.
First, subtract the weight of the elevator operator from the maximum capacity the elevator can carry:
23,200 pounds (total capacity) - 195 pounds (operator's weight) = 23,005 pounds (remaining capacity for palettes).
Next, divide the remaining capacity by the weight of a single palette to find how many palettes can be carried:
23,005 pounds / 425 pounds/palette = 54.12941176 palettes.
Since we cannot have a fraction of a palette, we must round down to the nearest whole number. Therefore, the elevator can carry a maximum of 54 palettes of roofing material per trip.
