Question 1205470: An alloy is composed of 4 parts of brass and 3 parts of copper. Determine what part of the whole is the copper.
Not sure how to solve.
Found 3 solutions by greenestamps, josgarithmetic, ikleyn:
Answer by greenestamps(13203)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
There is perhaps a bit of confusion with the use of the word "part" in the statement of the problem. Change "what part of the whole" to "what fraction of the whole" for clarification.
4 parts of brass and 3 parts of copper means that out of every 7 parts of the alloy 4 parts are brass and 3 parts are copper. So the fraction of the whole that is copper is 3/7.
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As a couple of other tutors have pointed out, this could be a valid math question, but if we pay attention to the science, it is not a valid question.
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, so it is impossible to know what fraction of the alloy is copper.
If we ignore the science and treat it solely as a math problem, then the fraction of copper in the alloy is 3/7; if we pay attention to the science, then we don't know.
Answer by josgarithmetic(39620)  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Meaningless until you know the content of copper in the brass!
You need to look into this so you can ultimately find a result.
4parts + 3parts = 7 total parts.
Your brass itself will be some fraction copper. A basic expression for amount of copper in your alloy is this:
 , using f as the fraction of your BRASS which is copper. Go onward from there.
Answer by ikleyn(52813)  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! .
In English, the word / (the term) " brass " means " an alloy of copper and zinc ",
and the content/proportion of these parts in an alloy is not defined / (is not specified).
So, in " your alloy ", the copper is partly in the brass and partly as a pure metal.
As a consequence, the real content of the pure copper in " your alloy "
is not defined properly - - - and can not be determined.
As the problem is worded, it does not give an opportunity to answer the question.
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