SOLUTION: This word problem was assigned in my Calculas class. I think the answer is b but I can not set it up using algebra to solve. Please help. Suppose we have a cup of coffee and

Algebra ->  Coordinate Systems and Linear Equations  -> Linear Equations and Systems Word Problems -> SOLUTION: This word problem was assigned in my Calculas class. I think the answer is b but I can not set it up using algebra to solve. Please help. Suppose we have a cup of coffee and      Log On


   



Question 224937: This word problem was assigned in my Calculas class.
I think the answer is b but I can not set it up using algebra to solve. Please help.
Suppose we have a cup of coffee and a cup of cream containing an equal volume of liquid and suppose we do the following:
1. Transfer a Tablespoon of cream and put it into the cup of coffee. We stir it in completely.
2. We then transfer a tablespoon of the cream-in-the-coffee mixture back into the cream cup and stir completely.
AFter these steps decide which of these statements is true(in the sense of volume)Explain your answer using ALGEBRA.
a.There is more coffee in the original "cream cup" than there is cream in the original "coffee cup".
b.There is more cream in the original "coffee cup" than there is coffee in the original "cream cup".
C. None of the above.

Answer by scott8148(6628) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
there are 16 tablespoons in a cup, but the exact size of the transfer is not crucial
___ working with 10% (or .10) is easier

start with 2 cups containing 10 ounces
___ take one ounce of cream from the cream cup to the coffee cup
___ this gives a mixture that is 1/11 cream and 10/11 coffee

when you transfer the ounce of liquid back to the cream cup, 10/11 of the ounce is coffee and 1/11 is cream

this means that of the 11/11 ounces of cream that you initially transfered, 10/11 are still in the coffee cup
___ this matches the 10/11 ounce of coffee that went into the cream cup

so the final mixture ratios are the SAME for both cups (answer C)