SOLUTION: Suppose you buy flour and cornmeal in bulk to make flour tortillas and corn tortillas. Flour cost $1.50/lb. Cornmeal cost $2.50/lb. You want to spend less than $9.50 on flour and c

Question 733744: Suppose you buy flour and cornmeal in bulk to make flour tortillas and corn tortillas. Flour cost $1.50/lb. Cornmeal cost $2.50/lb. You want to spend less than $9.50 on flour and cornmeal, and you need at least 4 lb altogether.
a. Write a system of inequalities that describes this situation.
b. What are 2 possible solutions to this situation?

Found 2 solutions by josmiceli, fcabanski:
Answer by josmiceli(19441) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let = pounds of flour needed
Let = pounds of cornmeal needed
Let = cost

--------------------
(1)
(2)
-----------------
I can see that , so

and

--------------
and

--------------
Solutions:
So, I can say and
and, also and
--------------
check:
and
(1)
(1)
(1)
and
(2)
(2)
---------------------
and
(1)
(1)
(1)
and
(2)
(2)
OK

Answer by fcabanski(1391) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Problems like this require two equations. The first equation describes the amount. The second equation describes cost.

Call flour f and cornmeal c.

f + c >= 4 - the total amount is greater or equal to 4 lbs. You need at least 4 lbs - 4 lbs or more.

1.5f + 2.5c < 9.50 - the cost of each is # of lbs times the cost per pound. And their sum must be less than $9.50.

Solve the first equation for f in terms of c, then replace f in the second equation with that value.

f >= 4 - c.

Since it's greater than or equal to 4-c, one valid solution results from it being equal. So just use equal.

1.5(4-c) + 2.5c < 9.50

6 - 1.5c +2.5c < 9.50

c < 3.5

Replace a valid value into the f = 4-c equation. 3 is less than 3.5.

f = 4-3 = 1.

Another solution is c = 2 lbs (that's less than 3.5)

f = 4-2 = 2.

RELATED QUESTIONS
Suppose you buy flour and cornmeal in bulk to make flour tortillas and corn... (answered by stanbon)
a 2-cup mixture consists of 1/3 flour and 2/3 cornmeal. if 1 cup of flour is added to... (answered by josmiceli,stanbon)
A 2-cup mixture consists of 1 flour and 2 33 cornmeal. If 1 cup of flour is added to... (answered by ikleyn)
A 2-cup mixture consists of 1/3 flour and 2 / 3 cornmeal. If 1 cup of flour is added to... (answered by ikleyn)
A 2-cup mixture consists of 1/3 flour and 2/3 cornmeal. If 1 cup of flour is added to... (answered by josgarithmetic,ikleyn)
A baker purchased 13 lb of wheat flour and 10 lb of rye flour for a total cost of $14.10. (answered by josgarithmetic,ikleyn)
Andrea is shopping at a bulk store. She needs to buy flour, sudar and salt. She needs... (answered by mbarugel)
A whale A baker purchased 5 lb of wheat flour and 15 lb of rye flour for a total cost of... (answered by Stitch)
a baker purchased 12 lb of wheat flour and 15 lb of rye flour for a total cost of 18.30.... (answered by pedjajov)