For mechanical advantage, what is the correct formula?

The concept of mechanical advantage refers to the ratio of the load force that is being moved to the effort force applied to move that load. The correct formula, which is load divided by effort, illustrates how much the effort is enhanced by the mechanical system.

This ratio allows us to understand how efficiently a machine or mechanical advantage system operates. For instance, if a machine provides a mechanical advantage of 4, it means that the effort applied can move a load four times greater than the effort itself. This understanding is crucial in the study of simple machines and how they can multiply force or effect ease of movement.

In contrast, the other formulas do not accurately reflect the definition of mechanical advantage. Effort divided by load would indicate the inverse and would not serve the purpose of measuring efficiency or performance of the mechanical system. The addition or subtraction of effort and load also does not apply in this context, as mechanical advantage specifically pertains to the relationship between these two forces in a ratio format.