SOLUTION: A dehydrated patient needs a 2.6% saline IV. Unfortunately, the hospital only has bags of 8% and 2% saline solutions. How many liters of each solutions should be mixed together to

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Question 373039: A dehydrated patient needs a 2.6% saline IV. Unfortunately, the hospital only has bags of 8% and 2% saline solutions. How many liters of each solutions should be mixed together to yield 2 liters of the desired concentration.
Can someone please help me with this one? I just can't get my head around it!
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A dehydrated patient needs a 2.6% saline IV.
Unfortunately, the hospital only has bags of 8% and 2% saline solutions.
How many liters of each of these solutions should be mixed together to
yield 2 liters of the desired concentration?
:
Let x = amt of 8% solution required
then
(2-x) = amt of 2% solution
:
.08x + .02(2-x) = .026(2)
.08x + .04 - .02x = .056
.08x - .02x = .056 - .04
.06x = .016
x = .016%2F.06
x = .267 liters of the 8% solution required
then
2 - .267 = 1.733 liters of the 2% solution
:
:
Check in original equation
.08(.267) + .02(1.733) = .026(2)
.02136 + .03466 = .056
.056 = .056; confirms our answer