Force Equilibrium of house painter

[Jtappan]

Homework Statement

A house painter is standing on a uniform, horizontal platform that is held in equilibrium by two cables attached to supports on the roof. The painter has a mass of 72 kg and the mass of the platform is 19.7 kg. The distance from the left end of the platform to where the painter is standing is d = 2.2 m and the total length of the platform is 5.4 m.

(a) How large is the force exerted by the left-hand cable on the platform?
____ N

(b) How large is the force exerted by the right-hand cable?
____ N

Homework Equations

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The Attempt at a Solution

How do you do this when there is two different points of rotation??

 

[steven10137]

OK well firstly you need to draw a free body diagram with all the forces you are told and their distances.

You are aware of the formula;
<br /> \sum {M_{CW} } = \sum {M_{ACW} } <br />
?

 

[Jtappan]

what does this mean? the sum of ..masses?

 

[steven10137]

OK are you aware of torque?

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.html

It's the sum of the MOMENTS about a point.
(Force x Perpendicular distance from the pivot)