Positioning a Counterweight for Heavy Crane Lifting

[SherlockOhms]

Homework Statement

A large tower crane is used to move heavy objects
in a construction site. The crane uses a counter
weight with a mass of mw = 1w.0 Mg (mega
grams), and the top beam of the crane also has a
mass of mc = 1x00.0 kg which is evenly distributed
along the beam. The length of the top beam of
the crane is L = 5y0.0 m. The counter weight can
position a maximum distance - c = 1z0.0 m from
the vertical support of the crane, and the load can
be positioned a maximum distance of (L-c) from the vertical support of the crane. w,x,y and z refer to various integers.

b) While at its maximum reach, if the crane was to lift a mass of 1,000 kg and needed to
lift this mass at an acceleration of 0.25g , where should the counter weight be
positioned during this acceleration (distance – b)?

Homework Equations

Your standard distance from the fulcrum multiplied by weight equations.

The Attempt at a Solution

I've spent about an two hours trying to figure this out. I'm pretty stumped though. Don't have any workings as I don't have a clue as to what the idea of this problem is. I don't need a fully worked solution, just a bump in the right direction. Thanks!

 

[haruspex]

Try rewriting the given values in a more conventional algebraic form, like m_w = 1000+100w kg. That at least should allow you to write out some equations. But the variables w and x will appear in the answer. I don't see enough information here to eliminate those. Neither do I see any use for the value c. Maybe that's because this is only part of a longer question.

 

[SherlockOhms]

Ok, I'm sorry. I may have been a little vague. This is my first post on here like. The integers w,x,y and Z are GIVEN integers. In my case w = 6, x = 2, y = 3 and z = 6.

 

[haruspex]

OK, so post your attempt at writing and then using the equation. Keep everything as just unknown variables for now, not using any of the actual numbers given.