Question 20123: I really need help on this problem quickly!!! I'm a AP AB Calculus student, but this extra credit problem is giving me serious issues. I can find one of the two equations and can continue no further! O.k. here it is:
"A Yankee mixes a certain number of wooden nutmegs, which cost him 1/4 cent apiece, with a quantity of real nutmegs, worth 4 cents apiece, and sells the whole assortment for $44; and gains $3.75 by the fruad. How many wooden nutmegs were there?"
I've managed this so far:
x= number of real nutmegs
y= number of fake nutmegs
The cost of the total number of nutmegs is 44 - 3.75, which equals 40.25
0.0025x + 0.04y = 40.25
Since I have two variables I need two equations. I know I need the total number of nutmegs but I don't know how to find it! Please help! It would be greatly appreciated! :)
Answer by 303795(602)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! The wooden nutmegs cost 1/4 cent and the real ones cost 4 cents. For every wooden nutmeg sold as a real one he makes an extra 3.75 cents profit. If he made $3.75 as a result of his fraud then he must have had 100 wooden nutmegs. Note this applies regardless of the number of real nutmegs in the mixture and his normal profit margin as the fraud is responsible for the extra 3.75 cents per nutmeg only.
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