SOLUTION: I have been working on this for two days and I just can't get it. jA coffee merchant combines coffee costing $5.50 per pound with coffee costing $3.00 per pound. How many pounds

Question 53063: I have been working on this for two days and I just can't get it.
jA coffee merchant combines coffee costing $5.50 per pound with coffee costing $3.00 per pound. How many pounds of each should be used to make 40 lb. if a blend costing $4.00 per pound.
5.50+ 3.00(40)=4.00(xy+40)
5.50+120=4.00xy+160
I just am not seeing it. help please. and thanks
Answer by Earlsdon(6294) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Try this:
Let x = the number of pounds of coffee @ $5.50 per pound and (40-x) the number of pounds of coffee @ $3.00 per pound. You can set up the equation as follows:
x($5.50)+(40-x)($3.00) = 40($4.00) Simplify and solve for x.
5.5x+120-3x = 160 Combine like-terms.
2.5x+120 = 160 Subtract 120 from both sides of the equation.
2.5x = 40 Divide both sides by 2.5
x = 16
The merchant should mix 16 pounds of the $5.50 coffee beans with 24 (40-16) pounds of the $3.00 coffee beans to obtain 40 pounds of $4.00 coffee beans.

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