Two arms of a common balance are unequal. How can the balance be used to find the correct mass of an object?

Two arms of a common balance are unequal. How can the balance be used

1.	Two arms of a common balance are unequal. How can the balance be used to find the correct mass of an object?
Answer» Solution :Suppose the correct mass of the object is m and the LENGTHS of the left and right arms of the balance are X and y respectively. At first the object is kept on the left pan and the counterpoising weight `m_(1)` on the right pan Fig. HENCE mx = `m_(1)y " ""or", (m)/(m_(1))=(y)/(x) ""cdots(1)` Next the object is kept on the right pan and the counterpoising weight `m_(2)` on the left pan Fig. Hence `m_(2)x =my """or", (m_(2))/(m)=(y)/(x) ""cdots (2)` From equations (1) and (2) we GET, `(m)/(m_(1))=(m_(2))/(m) " ""or", m^(2)=m_(1)m_(2)" ""or",m = sqrt(m_(1)m_(2))` Hence, the true mass m of the object can be calculated.