SOLUTION: How much 50% antifreeze solution and 40% antifreeze solution should be combined to give 50 gallons of 46% antifreeze solution?

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Coins -> SOLUTION: How much 50% antifreeze solution and 40% antifreeze solution should be combined to give 50 gallons of 46% antifreeze solution?       Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


    

Question 1200511: How much 50% antifreeze solution and 40% antifreeze solution should be combined to give 50 gallons of 46% antifreeze solution?
Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, greenestamps:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
h of the 50%
50-h of the 40%
Result Wanted, 50 gallons of 46%

50h%2B40%2850-h%29=46%2A50, to account for amount of pure antifreeze.

50h-40h%2B40%2A50=46%2A50
%2850-40%29h=46%2A50-40%2A50
h%2850-40%29=50%2846-40%29
highlight_green%28h=50%28%2846-40%29%2F%2850-40%29%29%29---------The computations were not yet done, so you can think about the form of this expression for variable h. ....
Now, compute h, and use it to evaluate 50-h.

Answer by greenestamps(13200) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


The response from the other tutor shows a typical setup for solving the problem using formal algebra. Assuming you are studying algebra, you should understand that method.

If formal algebra is not required and you want a fast path to the answer, you can do the following.

46% is 6/10 = 3/5 of the way from 40% to 50%.
That means 3/5 of the mixture should be the higher percentage antifreeze.

ANSWERS: 3/5 of 50 gallons, of 30 gallons, of the 50% antifreeze, the other 20 gallons of 40%

CHECK:
.50(30)+.40(20) = 15+8 = 23
.46(50) = 23