Simple+Machines+Formula

Work is measured in Joules. To find the amount of Joules there is in something's work then you have to multiply the distance by the amount of newtons(newtons is the unit of force). So you are pretty much multiplying the force times the distance. The number you get will be the amount of joules in the work.

He is an example

Suppose you see a first class lever. And the machine's work is on the left side and the person's work on the right. Suppose that on the left side, its is carrying a box, and carrying that box is 4 newtons of work. And on the right side, the person pulling the machine is doing 1 newton of work. Suppose the machine has carried the box 2 meters and the person 8. To find the machines work you would multiply 4N by wM and you would get 8 joules. And the right side you would get 1N by 8M and you would get 8 joules. The joules number is always the same for the person and machine. And since the machine was carrying 4N and the person was only doing 1N. Then the work advantage of the machine is 4/1(in fractions) and in the test you will have to answer in ratio which is 4:1. This is how the formula works.