Chapter 12, Problem 63P

Four bricks of length L, identical and uniform, are stacked on top of one another (Fig. 12-71) in such a way that part of each extends beyond the one beneath. Find, in terms of L, the maximum values of (a) a₁, (b) a₂, (c) a₃, (d) a₄, and (e) h, such that the stack is in equilibrium, on the verge of falling.

Figure 12-71 Problem 63.