The pan balance

In your book, Maths Mela (Chapter 8), there are pan balances with a 1 kg salt packet on one pan and other packets on the other pan. Which way will each balance tilt? Remember: the heavier side goes down and the lighter side goes up. If both sides weigh the same, the pans stay level.

To decide, add up the weights on each pan. On one balance there are 6 bars of soap, each 200 g. 200 g + 200 g + 200 g + 200 g + 200 g + 200 g = 1200 g. The salt packet is 1 kg, which is 1000 g. 1200 g is more than 1000 g, so the soap side goes down.

On another balance there are 5 packets of haldi, each 50 g. 5 packets of 50 g weigh 250 g. That is much less than 1000 g, so the salt side goes down and the haldi side goes up.

On the last balance there are 3 packets of tea leaves, each 250 g. 250 g + 250 g + 250 g = 750 g. That is less than 1000 g, so the salt side goes down again. One more 250 g packet would make 1000 g, and then the pans would be level.