Finding the Right Place for the Fulcrum 24) Where would you place the fulcrum for a 33-foot lever, if at one end there is 100 pounds and 60 pounds on the other? 100 * x = 60(33-x) 100x = 1980 -60x 160x = 1980 x = 12.375 The fulcrum would be placed 12.375 feet away from the 100 pound weight -- or 12 feet and 4 and 1/2 inches. NOTE: 0.375 (feet) * 12 (inches) = 4.5 (inches) When we plug the 12.375 into the term for the 60 pound weight (33-x), we have 33-12.375 = 20.625 -- or 20 feet and 7 and 1/2 inches. It, therefore, will be that far away from the fulcrum. Let's now double-check: 100 * 12.375 = 60 * 20.625 1,237.5 = 1,237.5