When calculating the total weight of mail, what is the weight of a mailing that has a gross weight of 61 pounds and a tare weight of 18 pounds?

To determine the total weight of the mailing, you subtract the tare weight from the gross weight. The gross weight represents the total weight of the mailing, including packaging, while the tare weight is the weight of the packaging itself.

In this case, the calculation is straightforward: you take the gross weight of 61 pounds and subtract the tare weight of 18 pounds.

So, 61 pounds (gross weight) – 18 pounds (tare weight) equals 43 pounds. This result reflects the net weight of the actual contents within the packaging, which is often the focus when assessing postage and shipping costs. Thus, the correct answer is 43 pounds.