text: how heavy is the heaviest person? five people took turns weighing themselves on a scale. however, they weighed each other two at a time, ten times total , so that every possible combination of two people was weighed. the scale had the following readouts for the pairs: 236 pounds, 244 pounds, 228 pounds, 250 pounds, 258 pounds, 230 pounds, 246 pounds, 238 pounds, 242 pounds, and 252 pounds. a + b = 236 a + c = 244 a + d = 228 a + e = 250 b + c = 258 b + d = 230 b + e = 246 c + d = 238 c + e = 242 d + e = 252  i dont know if there is an easier solution  a = 236 - b a = 236 - (258 - c) a = 236 - (258 - (244 -a)) a = 236 - (258 - 244 + a) a = 236 - (14 + a) a = 236 - 14 - a a = 222 - a 2a = 222 a = 111   b = 236 - a b = 236 - 111 b = 125   c = 258 - b c = 258 - 125 c = 133   d = 228 - a d = 228 - 111 d = 117  e = 250 - a e = 250 - 111 e = 139  therefore, the heaviest person weighs 139 lbs