Question 173475:  A food store makes a 9-lb mixture of peanuts. cashews, and raisens. Peanuts cost $1.50 per pound, cashews cost $2.00 per pound, and raisens cost $1.00 per pound. The mixture calls for twice as much peanuts than cashews. The total cost of the mixture is $13.00. How much of each ingredient did the store use?
 
How do you det this up into equations? 
 Found 2 solutions by  Mathtut, josmiceli: Answer by Mathtut(3670)      (Show Source):  Answer by josmiceli(19441)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! These problems are always easier if you put letters in place 
of the things you're looking for: 
Let  = the pounds of peanuts needed 
Let  = the pounds of cashews needed 
Let  = the pounds of raisins needed 
The 1st sentence says it's a 9-pound mixture, so 
(1)   
Peanuts cost $1.50 per pound, so the cost of the peanuts will be 
  
Cashews cost $2.00 per pound, so the cost of the cashews will be 
  
Raisins cost $1.00 per pound, so the cost of the raisins will be 
  
The total cost of the mixture is $13.00, so 
(2)   
The mixture calls for twice as much peanuts than cashews, so 
(3)   
Now I have 3 equations and 3 unknowns, so it should be solvable 
Subtract (1) from (2) 
  
Substitute (3) for   
  
  
  
And, going back to (3), 
  
  
  
Use (1) to find   
  
  
  
  
The amounts of the ingredients are 2 pounds of cashews, 
4 pounds of peanuts, and 3 pounds of raisins 
Check answer: 
(2)   
  
  
  
OK  
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