Question

Sarah Meeham blends coffee for Tasti-Delight. She needs to prepare 160 pounds of blended coffee beans selling for $4.97 per pound. She plans to do this by blending together a high quality bean costing $6.00 per pound and a cheaper bean at $3.25 per pound. To the nearest pound, find how much high quality coffee bean and how much cheaper coffee bean she should blend.

Answer 1

Given:
let h be the high quality bean
let c be the cheaper bean

h + c = 160
6h + 3.25c = 160*4.97
6h + 3.25c = 795.20

h = 160 - c
6(160 - c) + 3.25c = 795.20
960 - 6c + 3.25c = 795.20
-2.75c = 795.20 - 960 
-2.75c = -164.80
c = -164.80 / -2.75
c = 59.92 or 60 lbs

h = 160 - c
h = 160 - 60
h = 100 lbs

Sarah should blend 60 lbs of cheap coffee bean and 100 lbs of high quality coffee bean.