SOLUTION: If Solution A contains 76% oxygen and Solution B contains 49% oxygen. How much of each solution should be mixed in order to create 45 gallons of a solution that contains 73% oxygen

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Question 1140605: If Solution A contains 76% oxygen and Solution B contains 49% oxygen. How much of each solution should be mixed in order to create 45 gallons of a solution that contains 73% oxygen?
Answer by Theo(13342) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
let x = the number of gallons of 76% oxygen.

let y = the number of gallons of 49% oxygen.

you want 45 gallons of 73% oxygen.

you have 2 equations that need to be solved simultaneously.

they are:

x + y = 45
.76 * x + .49 * y = .73 * 45

simplify to get:

x + y = 45
.76 * x + .49 * y = 32.85

i'll use elimination as the method to solve these 2 equations simultaneously.

multiply both sides of the first equation by .76 and leave the second equation as is to get:

.76 * x + .76 * y = 34.2

.76 * x + .49 * y = 32.85

subtract the second equation from the first to get:

.27 * y = 1.35

solve for y to get:

y = 5.

since x + y = 45, then x = 40

your solution should be that x = 40 and y = 5.

replace x and y in the second original equation to get:

.76 * 40 + .49 * 5 = 32.85 which becomes 32.85 = 32.85, confirming the solution is correct.

32.85 / 45 = .73 = 73%

the requirements of the problem are satisfied.

your solution is that you need to mix 40 gallons of 76% oxygen with 5 gallons of 49% oxygen to get 45 gallons of 73% oxygen.