Question

A scientist has two solutions, which she has labeled Solution A and Solution B. Each contains salt. She knows that Solution A is 70 % salt and Solution B is 95 % salt. She wants to obtain 80 ounces of a mixture that is 80 % salt. How many ounces of each solution should she use?

Answer 1

Answer:

• 32 ounces of 95% salt
• 48 ounces of 70% salt

Explanation:

Let x represent the number of ounces of 95% salt she should use.

Then the total amount of salt in the 80 ounces of solution is ...

... 0.95x + 0.70(80-x) = 0.80·80

... 0.25x = 64 -56 . . . . . . . collect terms, subtract 56

... x = 8·4 = 32 . . . . . . . . . . multiply by 4

She should use 32 ounces of 95% salt and (80-32=) 48 ounces of 70% salt,