What is the IMA of a compound pulley with 4 supporting strands?

The ideal mechanical advantage (IMA) of a pulley system is determined by the number of supporting strands that are responsible for lifting the load. In the case of a compound pulley with 4 supporting strands, the IMA is equal to the number of these strands. Each strand provides support to help lift the load more efficiently, allowing you to apply less force than the weight of the load being lifted.

In this scenario, since there are 4 supporting strands, the IMA is 4. This means that the force you exert to lift the load is only 1/4th of the weight of the load itself, thanks to the assistance provided by the pulley system. This principle of mechanical advantage highlights how pulleys can simplify lifting tasks by distributing the load across multiple strands, allowing for a greater efficiency in the lifting process.

Other response options do not correctly represent the number of supporting strands in the pulley system, thus leading to lower IMA values that don't correspond to the actual configuration described in the question.