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
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "This is my answer: cashews: 0.42 lb.; peanuts: 0.08 1b. \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Is this correct? Thank you.
\n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #777468 by greenestamps(13200)\"\" \"About 
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\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( "\"x%285.5%29%2B%280.5-x%29%282.3%29+=+0.5%282.8%29\"

\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( "\"%285%2F64%29%285.50%29%2B%2827%2F64%29%282.30%29+=+1.40\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"%281%2F2%29%282.80%29+=+1.40\"
\r
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