Step 3 : Equations.
Let’s start with the x -direction.
And from vector analysis we know that
so,
Similarly, if we look at the y -direction,
and
so,
Step 4 : Solve.
We can solve Equation 1 and Equation 2 simultaneously and find T 1 and T 2 . We’ll let you do this on
your own,^2 but in case you want to check your answers, T 1 = 37 N and T 2 = 45 N. (These are reasonable
answers, as the tension in each rope is the same power of 10 as the 50 N weight of the box.)
Steps 1 , 2 , and 3 are the important steps. Step 4 only involves math. “ONLY math?!?” you ask,
incredulous. “That’s the toughest part!”