Question

How many pounds of almonds worth 20 cents a pound must be mixed with 40 pounds of peanuts worth 40 cents a pound to get a mixture worth 36 cents a pound?

Answer 1

To solve the problem we must establish two equations.
let x be the mass of the 20 cents almonds
y be the mass of the 36 cents mixture
first equation is:

x + 40 = y

the second equation is:
0.2x + 40(0.4) = 0.36y

solving the equations simultaneously
x = 10 lb of the 20 cents almonds is needed to mix