SOLUTION: I don't know where to begin to solve this word problem.. A merchant has nuts worth $20 a pound that she wishes to mix with 30 pounds of dried fruit worth $90 a pound to get a tra

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Question 716009: I don't know where to begin to solve this word problem..
A merchant has nuts worth $20 a pound that she wishes to mix with 30 pounds of dried fruit worth $90 a pound to get a trail mix that can be sold for $40 a pound. How many pounds of the $20 nuts should be used?

Hope to hear from someone soon, thank you
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20065) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I don't know where to begin to solve this word problem..
A merchant has nuts worth $20 a pound that she wishes to mix with 30 pounds of dried fruit worth $90 a pound to get a trail mix that can be sold for $40 a pound. How many pounds of the $20 nuts should be used?

Let the answer be x pounds of nuts.  Make this chart:

            Pounds    Price/pound     Worth
----------------------------------------------------
Nuts          x          $20           $20x
Fruit        30          $90          $2700  
----------------------------------------------------
Mixture     x+30         $40          $40(x+30)

       The equation comes from:

           %22%22%2B%22%22%22%22=%22%22

                     20x + 2700 = 40(x+30)

Solve that and get x = 75 pounds of nuts.

Edwin