document.write( "Question 171063: I'm trying to work this problem and I think that it actually will be a linear equation, but I'm having problems trying to set it up to make it come out right.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " An auto service center has ten fifty-five gallon drums of 90% ethylene glycol, a common antifreeze fluid used in car radiators. The service center also has eight fifty-five gallon drums of 40% ethylene glycol solution as well. The manager wants to mix appropriate amounts of these two solutions to make 100 gallons of a 55% ethylene glycol concentration. How many gallons of the 90% solution will she need? \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Can you help me with this one? I'm studying to take my final exam this coming Friday and I believe there will be questions of this type on my final.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Thank you\r
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Algebra.Com's Answer #126296 by Earlsdon(6294)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The problem description contains a lot of extraneous data that will not be needed in solving this problem, so, beware of this on your test.
\n" ); document.write( "You'll need to sort out the wheat from the chaff, as the saying goes.
\n" ); document.write( "The fact that the Auto Center has ten fifty-five gallon drums of 90% and eight fifty-five gallon drums of 40% ethylene glycol is interesting but not required to solve the problem.
\n" ); document.write( "Let x = the number of gallons of 90% ethylene glycol solution needed ((90%)x).
\n" ); document.write( "Then the manager will need to mix (100-x) gallons of the 40% ethylene glycol solution ((40%(100-x)) with that to get the 100 gallons of 55% ethylene glycol solution (55%(100)).
\n" ); document.write( "After changing the percentages to their decimal equivalents: (90% = 0.9, 40% = 0.4, and 55% = 0.55), you can express this as follows:
\n" ); document.write( "0.9x+0.4(100-x) = 0.55(100) Simplify and solve for x.
\n" ); document.write( "0.9x+40-0.4x = 55 Combine like-terms.
\n" ); document.write( "0.5x+40 = 55 Subtract 40 from both sides.
\n" ); document.write( "0.5x = 15 Divide both sides by 0.5
\n" ); document.write( "x = 30 gallons of 90% ethylene glycol solution.
\n" ); document.write( "Suffice it to say that the manager has enough ethylene glycol solution on hand to do the job.
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