SOLUTION: A chemist has 10% and 50% solutions of acid available. How many liters of each solution should be mixed to obtain 120 liters of 18% acid solution?

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Question 1201269: A chemist has 10% and 50% solutions of acid available. How many liters of each solution should be mixed to obtain 120 liters of 18% acid solution?

Found 2 solutions by math_tutor2020, josgarithmetic:
Answer by math_tutor2020(3817)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Answers:
96 liters of the 10% solution
24 liters of the 50% solution

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Work Shown:

Method 1

x = amount of the 10% solution = first batch
120-x = amount of the 50% solution = second batch

0.10x = amount of pure acid from the first batch
0.50(120-x) = 60-0.5x = amount of pure acid from the second batch

We want 120 liters of 18% solution.
Therefore, we want 0.18*120 = 21.6 liters of pure acid.

The two pure acid subtotals 0.10x and 60-0.50x must add to the 21.6 figure.
0.10x + 60-0.50x = 21.6
-0.40x + 60 = 21.6
-0.40x = 21.6-60
-0.40x = -38.4
x = -38.4/(-0.40)
x = 96 liters of the 10% solution is needed.
120-x = 120-96 = 24 liters of the 50% solution is also needed.


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Method 2


The gap from 10% to 18% is 8
The gap from 18% to 50% is 32

The ratio 32:8 reduces to 4:1

We'll need 4 times as much of the 10% solution compared to the 50% solution.

Think of 4:1 as 4x:1x
Their parts add to 4x+1x = 5x
That total must be 120 liters
5x = 120
x = 120/5
x = 24

amount of 10% solution = 4x = 4*24 = 96 liters
amount of 50% solution = 1x = 1*24 = 24 liters
The ratio 96:24 reduces to 4:1.

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Check:

total = 96+24 = 120

10% of 96 = 0.10*96 = 9.6 liters of pure acid from the first batch
50% of 24 = 0.50*24 = 12 liters of pure acid from the second batch
9.6+12 = 21.6 liters of pure acid total
21.6/120 = 0.18 = 18% solution
We have confirmed the answers.

Answer by josgarithmetic(39618)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
https://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/word/mixtures/Mixture_Word_Problems.faq.question.867786.html

https://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/word/mixtures/Mixture_Word_Problems.faq.question.887111.html

This type been asked and answered many thousands of times.

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A chemist has 10% and 50% solutions of acid available. How many liters of each solution should be mixed to
obtain 120 liters of 18% acid solution?
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A chemist has L% and H% solutions of acid available. How many liters of each solution should be mixed to
obtain V liters of T% acid solution?
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y liters of H%, the higher percentage material
M-y liters of L% material


-


----------and use for evaluating M-y.

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