Answer
Scissors, metal-cutting shears, and bolt cutters are levers.
Input force multiplied by input distance equals output force multiplied by output distance. For scissors that cut paper, with their short handles, a relatively large force acts over a small distance, and the lever turns it into a small force over a long distance.
On the other hand, to cut metal or to shear bolts, the handles are long. A relatively small force is applied over a long distance to output a large force over a short distance.
This is discussed on page 120.
