Question

An 800N billboard worker stands on a 4m scaffold weighing 500N and supported by vertical ropes at each end. How far would the worker stand from one of the supporting ropes to produce a tension of 550N in that rope?

Answer 1

Due to the scaffold 250 N on each rope
so
where to generate an additional 300 N

total = 800
so 300 on one end and 500 on the other end due to man
300 x = 500(4-x)
300 x = 2000 - 500 x
800 x = 2000
x = 5/2 = 2.5

Answer 2

850