SOLUTION: A chemist mixes X grams of a 20% saline solution and Y grams of a 5% saline solution to make 4.5 grams of a 10% saline solution. What are the values of x and y?

Question 713499: A chemist mixes X grams of a 20% saline solution and Y grams of a 5% saline solution to make 4.5 grams of a 10% saline solution. What are the values of x and y?
Answer by josgarithmetic(39616) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
AND

The numbers of the problem were chosen by the author so you could conveniently divide the percentage equation by 5; you should then multiply both sides by 4.5.

The system to solve is this:

This is also very convenient because now you can subtract the second equation from the first equation and quickly get a value for X.

,.... See? Now quickly solve for X....
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