What force must be applied to lift the load?

[Jtappan]

Homework Statement

A rod is being used as a lever as shown. The fulcrum is 1.2 m from the load and 2.4 m from the applied force. If the load has a mass of 11.6 kg, what force must be applied to lift the load?
____ N

Homework Equations

?

The Attempt at a Solution

When doing this problem do you need to put the rock as negative radius? or are you using two different equations?

 

[Dick]

This is a simpler version of the last problem you posted. Read my response to that first. You have to balance both total vertical force AND torque. You can put the center to compute torques from anyplace you want, but the fulcrum is convenient. In which case, yes, one distance is positive and one is negative.