document.write( "Question 113878: How many grams of pure silver must be mixed with 450grams of an alloy that is 10% copper in order to produce a sterling silver that is 7.5% copper? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #82865 by Edwin McCravy(20055)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! \r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "How many grams of pure silver must be mixed with 450 grams of an alloy that\r\n" ); document.write( "is 10% copper in order to produce a sterling silver that is 7.5% copper?\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "We have three things to consider: 1. the first stuff, 2. the second \r\n" ); document.write( "stuff, and 3. the final stuff that we get after we mix the first stuff\r\n" ); document.write( "with the second stuff.\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "Each of those \"stuffs\" contains some pure copper, and/or some pure silver,\r\n" ); document.write( "and/or some other stuff. \r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "So we mix: \r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "1. x grams of the first stuff that is 100% silver and therefore 0% copper\r\n" ); document.write( "and 0% other metal.\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "with\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "2. 450 grams of the second stuff that is 10% copper and therefore 90% other\r\n" ); document.write( "metal and 0% silver\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "and end up with\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "3. x+450 grams of the final stuff that is 7.5% copper and therefore 92.5%\r\n" ); document.write( "silver and other metal.\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "Note: it isn't necessary to deal with anything but the copper, but I\r\n" ); document.write( "think it makes it easier to deal with all the ingredients.\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "Make this chart:\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( " grams of grams of grams of grams of\r\n" ); document.write( " stuff silver copper other metal\r\n" ); document.write( "first stuff \r\n" ); document.write( "second stuff \r\n" ); document.write( "--------------------------------------------------------------\r\n" ); document.write( "final stuff \r\n" ); document.write( " \r\n" ); document.write( "Fill in the number of grams of the first, second and final stuff. That is,\r\n" ); document.write( "x grams of the first stuff, 450 grams of the second stuff, and therefore\r\n" ); document.write( "x+450 grams of the final stuff:\r\n" ); document.write( " \r\n" ); document.write( " grams of grams of grams of grams of\r\n" ); document.write( " stuff silver copper other metal\r\n" ); document.write( "first stuff x \r\n" ); document.write( "second stuff 450 \r\n" ); document.write( "--------------------------------------------------------------\r\n" ); document.write( "final stuff x+450 \r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "Next fill in the number of grams of silver only, by multiplying\r\n" ); document.write( "the grams of the first and second stuff by the percentage of silver \r\n" ); document.write( "expressed as a decimal. The first stuff is 100% silver. The second\r\n" ); document.write( "stuff is 0& silver. Then since the second stuff contains no silver,\r\n" ); document.write( "the final stuff contains exactly the same amount of silver as the \r\n" ); document.write( "first stuff.\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( " grams of grams of grams of grams of\r\n" ); document.write( " stuff silver copper other metal\r\n" ); document.write( "first stuff x 1.00x \r\n" ); document.write( "second stuff 450 0.00(450) \r\n" ); document.write( "----------------------------------------------------------\r\n" ); document.write( "final stuff x+450 1.00x \r\n" ); document.write( " \r\n" ); document.write( "Next fill in the number of grams of copper only, by multiplying\r\n" ); document.write( "the grams of each stuff by their percentage of copper \r\n" ); document.write( "expressed as a decimal. \r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( " grams of grams of grams of grams of\r\n" ); document.write( " stuff silver copper other metal\r\n" ); document.write( "first stuff x 1.00x 0.00x \r\n" ); document.write( "second stuff 450 0.00(450) 0.10(450) \r\n" ); document.write( "----------------------------------------------------------\r\n" ); document.write( "final stuff x+450 1.00x 0.075(x+450) \r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "Next fill in the number of grams of other metal only, by multiplying\r\n" ); document.write( "the grams of the first and final stuff by their percentage of silver \r\n" ); document.write( "expressed as a decimal. Then since the first stuff contains no\r\n" ); document.write( "\"other metal\", the final stuff contains exactly the same amount of other\r\n" ); document.write( "metal as the second stuff.\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( " grams of grams of grams of grams of\r\n" ); document.write( " stuff silver copper other metal\r\n" ); document.write( "first stuff x 1.00x 0.00x 0.00x\r\n" ); document.write( "second stuff 450 0.00(450) 0.10(450) 0.90(450)\r\n" ); document.write( "---------------------------------------------------------------\r\n" ); document.write( "final stuff x+450 1.00x 0.075(x+450) 0.90(450)\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "Now we can make the \"stuff equation\" out of the first column:\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "x + 450 = x + 450\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "But that equation doesn't do us any good.\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "We can make the \"silver equation\" out of the second column:\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "1.00x + 0.00(450) = 1.00x\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "But that equation becomes x = x and does us no good either.\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "We can make the \"copper equation\" out of the third column:\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( ".00x + .10(450) = 0.075(x+450)\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "Now that equation shows promise!!\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "We can make the \"other metal equation\" out of the fourth column:\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( ".00x + .90(450) = .90(450)\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "That equation becomes 405 = 405 and does us no good. So we only\r\n" ); document.write( "have one equation that does us any good, the copper equation:\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( ".00x + .10(450) = 0.075(x+450) or\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( " .10(450) = 0.075(x+450)\r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "Solve that for x and we get x = 150 grams of pure silver \r\n" ); document.write( "\r\n" ); document.write( "Edwin \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |