document.write( "Question 1154951: To mix cashews worth $5.50 per pound with peanuts worth $2.30 per pound to get a 1/2 pound mixture that is worth $2.80 per pound, how much of each kind of nut should be included in the mixed bag?\r
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document.write( "This is my answer: cashews: 0.42 lb.; peanuts: 0.08 1b. \r
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document.write( "Is this correct? Thank you. \n" );
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Algebra.Com's Answer #777468 by greenestamps(13200)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! \n" ); document.write( "Without doing any detailed calculations, no -- your answer is not right. \n" ); document.write( "Your answer uses far more cashews than peanuts, so the price per pound should be much closer to $5.50 than it is to $2.30. But $2.80 is much closer to $2.30 than it is to $5.50. \n" ); document.write( "A standard algebraic solution would go something like this.... \n" ); document.write( "x = pounds of cashews at $5.50 per pound \n" ); document.write( "0.5-x = pounds of peanuts at $2.30 per pound \n" ); document.write( "The combined mixture is a half pound worth $2.80 per pound: \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "You can finish solving the problem by that method if you want. It is straightforward; but somewhat ugly, given all the decimals. \n" ); document.write( "Here is a solution using the method I like to use for solving mixture problems like this. \n" ); document.write( "(1) The target price per pound, $2.80, is 5/32 of the way from $2.30 to $5.50. (Picture the three prices -- 2.30, 2.80, and 5.50 -- on a number line. From 2.30 to 5.50 is 3.20; from 2.30 to 2.80 is 0.50. 2.80 is 0.50/3.20 = 5/32 of the way from 2.30 to 5.50.) \n" ); document.write( "That means 5/32 of the mixture is the more expensive cashews. \n" ); document.write( "ANSWER: (5/32) of the 1/2 pound mixture -- so 5/64 pounds -- are cashews; the remaining 27/64 pounds are peanuts. \n" ); document.write( "CHECK: \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |