SOLUTION: You have a solution that is 50% alcohol and a solution that is 80% alcohol. How much of each do you need to mix to get 3 gallons of a solution that is 60% alcohol?

Question 232738: You have a solution that is 50% alcohol and a solution that is 80% alcohol. How much of each do you need to mix to get 3 gallons of a solution that is 60% alcohol?
Answer by nerdybill(7384) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You have a solution that is 50% alcohol and a solution that is 80% alcohol. How much of each do you need to mix to get 3 gallons of a solution that is 60% alcohol?
.
Let x = amount of 50% alcohol
then
3-x = amount of 80% alcohol
.
.50x + .80(3-x) = .60(3)
.50x + 2.4 - .80x = 1.8
2.4 -.30x = 1.8
-.30x = -0.6
x = 2 gallons (50% alcohol)
.
80% alcohol:
3-x = 3-2 = 1 gallon (80% alcohol)

RELATED QUESTIONS
if you have a 40% alcohol solution and a 70% alcohol solution, how much of each do you... (answered by stanbon)

Mix a solution that is 30% alcohol with a solution that is 80% alcohol to make 800mL of a (answered by ptaylor)

Mix a solution that is 30% alcohol with a solution that is 80% alcohol to make 800 mL of... (answered by checkley77)

Mix a solution that is 50%alcohol with a solution that is 10% alcohol to make 300 L of a... (answered by ptaylor)

Suppose that you have a supply of a 20% solution of alcohol and a 80% solution of... (answered by edjones)

I'm struggling a bit with word problems and mixtures that contain percentages. Maybe you (answered by ankor@dixie-net.com,richwmiller)

Mix a solution that is 30% alcohol with a solution that is 80% alcohol to make 800mL of a (answered by ankor@dixie-net.com)

Mix a solution that is 40% alcohol with a solution that is 10% alcohol to make 225 mL of... (answered by rwm)

You need 270 mL of a 55% alcohol solution. On hand, you have a 50% alcohol mixture and a... (answered by josgarithmetic,ikleyn)