Determine the maximum weight of the bucket that the wire system can support so that no single wire develops a tension exceeding 100 lb.

Let there be N number of wires.

Maximum tension a wire can withstand = 100 lb

so, Total tension N wires can withstand =  100 N

now, total tension in N wires = Maximum weight of bucket

100 N  = W

so, W = 100N

W is the weight of bucket and 100N is its maximum value.

The answer is trial 3.