Asmall airplane can carry less than 1050 pounds of luggage and mail. the mail for the day weighs 490 pounds. if each passenger brings 70 pounds of luggage what is the greatest possible number of passengers that can be taken

First we need to found out how many pounds and luggage to small plane can carry, now that we know there is 490 pounds of mail. 

1050 - 490 = 560 

Now we need to find out the maximum number of passengers that can board the plane. 

70p = 1050 

We know that there are 560 avalible pounds left on the plane

70 x 8 = 560 

560 + 490 = 1050. 

Well if we go back to the question it says less than 1050. This means that 8 passengers times 70 pounds each would not be correct because the small airplane can carry less than 1050 pounds.

70 x 7 = 490
 

490 + 490 = 980 
980 is less than 1050

So the answer would be 7 passengers. 

7 Passengers is the maximum amount of passengers that can be taken. 

I hope this helps!