Question 798491
A candy maker wants to make a M pound mixture of two candies to sell for $T per pound. If black licorice bits sells for $L per pound and orange gumdrops sell for $H per pound, how many pounds of each should be used?


Let u = pounds of the L per pound candy
Let v = pounds of the H per pound candy


{{{(Lu+Hv)/M=T}}} and {{{u+v=M}}}
Solve for u and v.





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The rewritten generalization might be new to a beginning algebra student.
This example question is a mixture problem in which the "concentration" is dollars per pound.  If you think of the description and question this way, then thinking through a solution path could be easier.  The given problem will become the system of equations:


Let u = pounds of the cheaper candy, and v = pounds of the more expensive candy.
{{{(1.90u+v*2.20)/60=2.00}}} and {{{u+v=60}}}


Note that the units for the left and right side of the rational equation is in Dollars per Pound.  SOLVE FOR u AND v.