The second question has the answer in the following link ..
http://www.goiit.com/posts/list/trignometry-sot-challenge-46259.htm#228738
Since the lift is accelerating up .mark a pseudo force down on the block = ma = 2m (in this case)
Thus in equilibrium we have
In case a one kg block is also added we have
Further elongation is 0.12 m
When we throw thrice , sum of 9 can come on the first 2 throws or first and last or last 2 throws (3 cases)
Thus the multiplication by 3 is done
Ya ur right abt it ...The new editor is really nice