How to Weigh With Each Foot on a Different Scale
Using math, you can weigh yourself and find your correct weight by standing on two different scales at the same time. A scale registers the number of pounds that has been on it. The number of pounds you are putting on two scales at the same time should come out to your exact weight if you do this correctly.
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Things You'll Need
- Two bathroom scales, preferably the same type.
- A piece of paper
- A pen or pencil
- Calculator
Instructions
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Set the two scales down on even hard ground, such as the floor in your house. Make sure they are level by putting pressure on each one to see if they stay in place and do not tilt from side to side. If they are not level, either move them to a more even surface or adjust the four small screw pads underneath until they are level.
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You will need to adjust the each scale so that they both register zero. This is done by turning a knob, dial or push buttons usually found along the edge or at the bottom of a bathroom scale. To check for accuracy, weigh yourself on each separate scale. If the weight is showing a weight discrepancy, from one scale to another, adjust one of the scales either up or down so that when you stand on it again, your weight is the same on both.
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Label your two scales A for one and B for the other. To take your weight accurately by standing on the two scales you must stand while putting equal pressure on both to the best of your ability. Standing as still as possible, wait until both stop moving and register a weight. Then write down the pounds registered on each scale.
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On a piece of paper make two columns using one column for scale A and one for scale B. Record the weight on each scale under the appropriate scale. Weigh yourself the same way two more times, recording the pounds on each scale in the appropriated assigned columns. You should have three recorded weights for each scale.
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Using math, you will now find your actual weight. To get an average of the three weights in each column you will be adding and dividing. Add the three weights in column A together and then divide it by three. This will be your final weight under column A. Do the same for the three weight recordings under column B, add them together and divide by three. You now have your final weight for column B. Add the final weight for column A with the final weight for column B. The total of these two weights should be your accurate weight, which should be the same when you weigh yourself using one scale.
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Tips & Warnings
The reason the three weights are taken is because being human, we cannot stand perfectly still for very long and there is bound to be some type of movement. By taking the three measurements then finding their average, this gives a more accurate weight reading. The averaging technique takes into consideration the discrepancies.
This can be a fun math project for children.
The readings will not be accurate if you are leaning or holding onto anything while weighing yourself. The three readings taken on the scale should be within a few pounds each. If they are not, repeat the weighing instructions again for accuracy.
