SOLUTION: Solve the following problem by writing a system of linear equation A chemist has two alcohol solutions. One is 2% and the other is 6%. She wants to make 60L of a 5% solution. How

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Question 1088264: Solve the following problem by writing a system of linear equation
A chemist has two alcohol solutions. One is 2% and the other is 6%. She wants to make 60L of a 5% solution. How much of each solutions must she use?

Answer by ikleyn(52855)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
Let x and y be the volumes (in liters, L) to be mixed.


Then one equation is "the volume" equation 

x + y = 60    (liters)     (1)

for the total volume.


The amount of "x" liters of the 2% solution contains 0.02x liters of pure alcohol.

The amount of "y" liters of the 6% solution contains 0.06y liters of pure alcohol.


Thus the mixture contains  0.02x + 0.06y liters of pure alcohol.

From the other side, the mixture contains 0.05*60 liters of pure alcohol.


It gives you the second equation, "pure alcohol contents equation"

0.02x + 0.06y = 0.05*60   (liters of pure alcohol)   (2)


Combining equations (1) and (2), you have this system of two linear equations for two unknowns

    x +     y = 60,     (3)
0.02x + 0.06y =  3.     (4)


Multiply equation (4) by 100 (both sides). You will get an equivalent system in the form

 x +  y =  60,          (5)
2x + 6y = 300           (6)

To solve it, express x = 60 - y from (5) and substitute into (6) replacing x. You will get

2(60-y) + 6y = 300,

120 - 2y + 6y = 300,

4y = 300 - 120   ====>  4y = 180  ====>  y =  = 45.


Answer.  45 liters of the 6% alcohol solution must be mixed with 60-45 = 15 liters of the 2% alcohol solution.

Solved.


There is entire bunch of lessons covering various types of mixture problems
    - Mixture problems
    - More Mixture problems
    - Solving typical word problems on mixtures for solutions
    - Word problems on mixtures for antifreeze solutions
    - Word problems on mixtures for dry substances like coffee beans, nuts, cashew and peanuts
    - Word problems on mixtures for dry substances like candies, dried fruits
    - Word problems on mixtures for dry substances like soil and sand
    - Word problems on mixtures for alloys
    - Typical word problems on mixtures from the archive
    - Advanced mixture problem for three alloys
    - OVERVIEW of lessons on word problems for mixtures
in this site.

Read them and become an expert in solution the mixture word problems.

Also, you have this free of charge online textbook in ALGEBRA-I in this site
    - ALGEBRA-I - YOUR ONLINE TEXTBOOK.

The referred lessons are the part of this online textbook under the topic "Mixture problems


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