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Barbell Plate worksheet

Grades 4–5 · CCSS 5.NBT.B.7

Solve each problem and show your work. Round answers to 2 decimal places where needed.

1.
Problem 1.
- Units: Kilograms (kg)
- Target weight: 100 kg
- Bar weight: 20 kg
- Plate sizes available: 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25
Find: Plates on each side
Answer
2.
Problem 2.
- Units: Pounds (lb)
- Target weight: 190 lb
- Bar weight: 34 lb
- Plate sizes available: 45, 35, 25, 10, 5, 2.5
Find: Plates on each side
Answer
3.
Problem 3.
- Units: Pounds (lb)
- Target weight: 160 lb
- Bar weight: 40 lb
- Plate sizes available: 50, 40, 20, 10, 4, 3
Find: Plates on each side
Answer
4.
Problem 4.
- Units: Pounds (lb)
- Target weight: 325 lb
- Bar weight: 66 lb
- Plate sizes available: 55, 40, 31, 8, 5, 2.9
Find: Plates on each side
Answer
5.
Problem 5.
- Units: Pounds (lb)
- Target weight: 200 lb
- Bar weight: 37 lb
- Plate sizes available: 48, 32, 32, 6, 6, 3
Find: Plates on each side
Answer
6.
Problem 6.
- Units: Pounds (lb)
- Target weight: 160 lb
- Bar weight: 45 lb
- Plate sizes available: 45, 35, 25, 10, 5, 2.5
Find: Plates on each side
Answer
7.
Problem 7.
- Units: Kilograms (kg)
- Target weight: 95 kg
- Bar weight: 20 kg
- Plate sizes available: 16, 15, 16, 9, 5, 2.4, 1.45
Find: Plates on each side
Answer
8.
Problem 8.
- Units: Pounds (lb)
- Target weight: 220 lb
- Bar weight: 43 lb
- Plate sizes available: 45, 35, 25, 10, 5, 2.5
Find: Plates on each side
Answer
9.
Problem 9.
- Units: Pounds (lb)
- Target weight: 240 lb
- Bar weight: 46 lb
- Plate sizes available: 42, 30, 29, 10, 4, 2.3
Find: Plates on each side
Answer
10.
Problem 10.
- Units: Kilograms (kg)
- Target weight: 80 kg
- Bar weight: 11 kg
- Plate sizes available: 30, 22, 14, 7, 4, 3, 1.1
Find: Plates on each side
Answer

Answer key: Barbell Plate worksheet

1. Plates on each side: 1 × 25 kg, 1 × 15 kg
1. Take the bar's weight off the target, then split the rest in half, because both sides must match
  $\frac{(100 kg - 20 kg)}{2}$ $= 40 kg$
2. Build each side from your plates, heaviest first, using as few plates as possible
  $25 + 15$ $= 40 kg$ $= per side: 1 × 25 kg, 1 × 15 kg$
3. Add the bar to the two matching sides to get the total on the bar
  $20 kg + 2 \times 40 kg$ $= 100 kg$
2. Plates on each side: 1 × 45 lb, 1 × 25 lb, 1 × 5 lb, 1 × 2.5 lb
1. Take the bar's weight off the target, then split the rest in half, because both sides must match
  $\frac{(190 lb - 34 lb)}{2}$ $= 78 lb$
2. Build each side from your plates, heaviest first, using as few plates as possible
  $45 + 25 + 5 + 2.5$ $= 77.5 lb$ $= per side: 1 × 45 lb, 1 × 25 lb, 1 × 5 lb, 1 × 2.5 lb$
3. Add the bar to the two matching sides to get the total on the bar
  $34 lb + 2 \times 77.5 lb$ $= 189 lb$
4. Your plates can't make the target exactly, so this is the closest load just below it
  $190 - 189$ $= 1 lb$
3. Plates on each side: 1 × 50 lb, 1 × 10 lb
1. Take the bar's weight off the target, then split the rest in half, because both sides must match
  $\frac{(160 lb - 40 lb)}{2}$ $= 60 lb$
2. Build each side from your plates, heaviest first, using as few plates as possible
  $50 + 10$ $= 60 lb$ $= per side: 1 × 50 lb, 1 × 10 lb$
3. Add the bar to the two matching sides to get the total on the bar
  $40 lb + 2 \times 60 lb$ $= 160 lb$
4. Plates on each side: 2 × 55 lb, 1 × 5 lb, 5 × 2.9 lb
1. Take the bar's weight off the target, then split the rest in half, because both sides must match
  $\frac{(325 lb - 66 lb)}{2}$ $= 129.5 lb$
2. Build each side from your plates, heaviest first, using as few plates as possible
  $55 + 55 + 5 + 2.9 + 2.9 + 2.9 + 2.9 + 2.9$ $= 129.5 lb$ $= per side: 2 × 55 lb, 1 × 5 lb, 5 × 2.9 lb$
3. Add the bar to the two matching sides to get the total on the bar
  $66 lb + 2 \times 129.5 lb$ $= 325 lb$
5. Plates on each side: 1 × 48 lb, 5 × 6 lb, 1 × 3 lb
1. Take the bar's weight off the target, then split the rest in half, because both sides must match
  $\frac{(200 lb - 37 lb)}{2}$ $= 81.5 lb$
2. Build each side from your plates, heaviest first, using as few plates as possible
  $48 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 3$ $= 81 lb$ $= per side: 1 × 48 lb, 5 × 6 lb, 1 × 3 lb$
3. Add the bar to the two matching sides to get the total on the bar
  $37 lb + 2 \times 81 lb$ $= 199 lb$
4. Your plates can't make the target exactly, so this is the closest load just below it
  $200 - 199$ $= 1 lb$
6. Plates on each side: 1 × 45 lb, 1 × 10 lb, 1 × 2.5 lb
1. Take the bar's weight off the target, then split the rest in half, because both sides must match
  $\frac{(160 lb - 45 lb)}{2}$ $= 57.5 lb$
2. Build each side from your plates, heaviest first, using as few plates as possible
  $45 + 10 + 2.5$ $= 57.5 lb$ $= per side: 1 × 45 lb, 1 × 10 lb, 1 × 2.5 lb$
3. Add the bar to the two matching sides to get the total on the bar
  $45 lb + 2 \times 57.5 lb$ $= 160 lb$
7. Plates on each side: 1 × 16 kg, 1 × 9 kg, 4 × 2.4 kg, 2 × 1.45 kg
1. Take the bar's weight off the target, then split the rest in half, because both sides must match
  $\frac{(95 kg - 20 kg)}{2}$ $= 37.5 kg$
2. Build each side from your plates, heaviest first, using as few plates as possible
  $16 + 9 + 2.4 + 2.4 + 2.4 + 2.4 + 1.45 + 1.45$ $= 37.5 kg$ $= per side: 1 × 16 kg, 1 × 9 kg, 4 × 2.4 kg, 2 × 1.45 kg$
3. Add the bar to the two matching sides to get the total on the bar
  $20 kg + 2 \times 37.5 kg$ $= 95 kg$
8. Plates on each side: 1 × 45 lb, 1 × 35 lb, 1 × 5 lb, 1 × 2.5 lb
1. Take the bar's weight off the target, then split the rest in half, because both sides must match
  $\frac{(220 lb - 43 lb)}{2}$ $= 88.5 lb$
2. Build each side from your plates, heaviest first, using as few plates as possible
  $45 + 35 + 5 + 2.5$ $= 87.5 lb$ $= per side: 1 × 45 lb, 1 × 35 lb, 1 × 5 lb, 1 × 2.5 lb$
3. Add the bar to the two matching sides to get the total on the bar
  $43 lb + 2 \times 87.5 lb$ $= 218 lb$
4. Your plates can't make the target exactly, so this is the closest load just below it
  $220 - 218$ $= 2 lb$
9. Plates on each side: 3 × 29 lb, 1 × 10 lb
1. Take the bar's weight off the target, then split the rest in half, because both sides must match
  $\frac{(240 lb - 46 lb)}{2}$ $= 97 lb$
2. Build each side from your plates, heaviest first, using as few plates as possible
  $29 + 29 + 29 + 10$ $= 97 lb$ $= per side: 3 × 29 lb, 1 × 10 lb$
3. Add the bar to the two matching sides to get the total on the bar
  $46 lb + 2 \times 97 lb$ $= 240 lb$
10. Plates on each side: 1 × 22 kg, 1 × 7 kg, 5 × 1.1 kg
1. Take the bar's weight off the target, then split the rest in half, because both sides must match
  $\frac{(80 kg - 11 kg)}{2}$ $= 34.5 kg$
2. Build each side from your plates, heaviest first, using as few plates as possible
  $22 + 7 + 1.1 + 1.1 + 1.1 + 1.1 + 1.1$ $= 34.5 kg$ $= per side: 1 × 22 kg, 1 × 7 kg, 5 × 1.1 kg$
3. Add the bar to the two matching sides to get the total on the bar
  $11 kg + 2 \times 34.5 kg$ $= 80 kg$