When trying to find out a spring constant, should the platforms mass be included in the calculations if the scale has been zeroed out by the weight of the platform?

Question

amistre64 · Answer

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anonymous · Answer

no

amistre64 · Answer

my gut says no as well; but my physics teacher said that we have to.

mathslover · Answer

Yes same here... since : 

when you have already taken the mass including that of the platform mass as 0 , then we should not include the mass of the platform again.

anonymous · Answer

the new deformation is  caused only by new mass

anonymous · Answer

so no

amistre64 · Answer

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he "asked the math major"  will the first point be at the origin.  To which I stated, "hopefully".