SOLUTION: For her chemistry experiment, Marisol needs 2 liters of a 50% alcohol solution. The lab has two containers, one with 40% alcohol solution and the other with 80% alcohol solution.

Question 651843: For her chemistry experiment, Marisol needs 2 liters of a 50% alcohol solution. The lab has two containers, one with 40% alcohol solution and the other with 80% alcohol solution.
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20055) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

So if you mix x liters of the weaker with y liters of the 
stronger you'll have 2 liters of liquid. so the first 
equation is

       x + y = 2

40& of the x liters is .4x liters of pure alcohol and
80& of the y liters is .8x liters of pure alcohol. 
So that totals up 50% of the 2 liters of liquid, which 
is .5 times 2 or 1 liter, so

    .4x + .8y = 1

Solve that system

   

x =  and y = 

Edwin

RELATED QUESTIONS
Marisol needs 5 liters of a 40% alcohol solution. The lab has two containers, one with... (answered by josgarithmetic,MathTherapy)

Milan needs 8 oz of a 20% alcohol solution for a chemistry lab. Unfortunately, his... (answered by MathLover1,checkley79,josmiceli)

A chemist needs 12 liters of 50% solution for a lab experiment. The stockroomconly has... (answered by addingup)

can some one help me solve this problem? A chemistry experiment requires 60 mL of a 40%... (answered by stanbon)

A chemistry experiment calls for a 40% hydrochloric acid solution. If the lab supply room (answered by Alan3354)

You are a lab assistant for Dr. Shay. In the lab, he has two solutions. Solution A is a... (answered by TimothyLamb)

*Use a system of equations to solve (2 variables and 2 equations)*: In order to... (answered by stanbon)

Two liters of 40% alcohol are mixed with 4 liters of another alcohol to form a 50 %... (answered by fractalier)

A scientist needs 7 litres of a 50% alcohol solution for an experiment. He has a 30% and... (answered by josgarithmetic,Shin123,greenestamps)